While millions of Americans were getting their first dose of MMA on live network TV, Cole Miller was busy trying to rehydrate himself after losing 10lbs. of water weight under the sizzling Georgia sun.

A 13.1 mile run, 1.2 miles of swimming, and 56 miles of cycling is what Miller endured and accomplished in only 8 hours to be branded a “half iron man.” While many would happily hang their hat on such a feat, Miller isn’t happy with being “half” of anything. He plans to compete in a full iron man triathlon next year, when he can dedicate more time to the ridiculously intense cardiovascular training that is required for such an undertaking. As if training with arguably the most insanely talented teammates in MMA wasn’t intense enough.

Many see iron man triathlons like these as bordering on masochistic, however; Cole Miller has a different outlook, “if I can pace myself over 8 hours and 70 miles, I shouldn’t be worried about gassing out during 3 5-minute rounds in the cage. Pushing myself to these extremes gives me a physical and mental advantage.”

Completing a triathlon may be an impressive accomplishment, but Jorge Gurgel would be quick to remind Miller that bicycles don’t punch you in the face, and that it’s easy to run when nobody is choking you. The two lightweight “Ultimate Fighter” alumni will clash in just under a week in a fight Miller says “will be all over the place.”

While Gurgel is coming off of a decision victory over John Halverson, Miller will be stepping into the octagon fresh off of a loss to Jeremy Stephens in a match where he was dominating until the end of the second round, when Stephens was able to land several unanswered punches and elbows, forcing referee Steve Mazzagatti to end the bout. “I just couldn’t get fired up for that fight, I was kind of lackadaisical, definitely a bad day at the office. In the Gurgel fight, I’m going to disregard the time, the judges, the takedowns, and everything. I’m going to get the scrapping in, fight my fight, and represent what my style is all about, and that’s technical grappling, and technical striking. I’m thinking we’re gonna go in there and fight for the full 15 minutes.”