Jason apologizes for his performance after the fight in strikeforce

Fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller has apologized for his part in a brawl that spoiled the ending to this part Saturday's "Strikeforce: Nashville" event that was broadcast live on CBS.

Miller, who defeated Tim Stout in a preliminary-card bout, entered the cage after the April 17 main event and Strikerforce middleweight champion Jake Shields' victory to demand a rematch of their November fight.

Miller's confrontation prompted Shields and other members of the Cesar Gracie camp to either shove or all out tackle and slug the fighter in what's already being called one of the biggest black eyes the sport has ever suffered.

The in-cage melee took place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., and ended CBS' second-ever Strikeforce event.

Although Miller himself never turned to physical violence, he apologized for "setting off a chain of events that cast a dark shadow on the sport."

From www.mayhemmiller.com:

"I would like to formally apologize to CBS, Strikeforce and all fans of mixed martial arts for my role in the events following the 'Strikeforce: Nashville' event. In retrospect, my timing could not have been worse to ask for my rematch with Jake [Shields], and I take full responsibility for entering the cage and setting off a chain of events that cast a dark shadow on the sport. I've been a fighter and a fan of MMA for over 12 years and would never do anything to intentionally tarnish the sport I've given my life to. In the excitement of the moment, I let my emotions run high and made a bad choice that resulted in a debacle. For that, I sincerely apologize."