Pat Miletich, the first UFC welterweight champion and one of the most decorated coaches in MMA history, announced in an Instagram video that he was fired by Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) for being present at the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
The Hall of Famer has been a color commentator for MMA events such as LFA for more than a decade. LFA airs on UFC Fight Pass.
In a statement to ESPN, LFA wrote that Miletich has been removed from the LFA 97 broadcast this Friday and the promotion will continue with an investigation to determine the next steps.
“First and foremost, the LFA supports the participation of the constitutional right to peaceful protest,” the statement read. “During preparations for the 2021 debut broadcast, it was brought to the LFA’s attention that photos of questionable nature surfaced on various social media outlets involving fight analyst Pat Miletich. While the LFA continues to investigate the situation, the decision was made to remove Mr. Miletich from broadcast duties for this Friday’s LFA 97 event.”
Miletich said in the video that LFA officials told him in a phone call that they were getting pressure and felt like they needed to “distance themselves” from him.
“I want you guys to know that the people I walked with at the Capitol, none of them that I know of were involved in any of the violence,” Miletich said.
Miletich shared photos on his Facebook page from the Capitol area, including one where he is smiling while posing next to a man wearing a patch with the initials “RWDS,” which stands for “right wing death squad.”
On the afternoon of Jan. 6, supporters of President Donald Trump marched to the U.S. Capitol after Trump’s rally and stormed the building while Congress was affirming the electoral college victory for Joe Biden. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died in the riot.