When competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the personal life of Billy “Too Pretty” Miles changes from day to day.

His training takes him from one place to another on a regular basis. He lifts weights at night and spars with fellow UFC competitors Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith and James “Sandman” Irvin at their gym, the Ultimate Training Center in Roseville.

On Tuesdays, Miles earns his nickname of “Too Pretty” by making his weekly hair appointment at Allure Salon and whenever needed, gets his hair dyed.

Three days a week, Miles travels with his team to Fairtex in San Francisco to work with a Muay Tai trainer Ganyao “Dr. Knee” Fairtex.

In the mornings, he puts his 2-year-old son Matt into a jogging stroller and runs around the block. Then at home he sits down with his son, plays with his blocks and reads him stories.

And other days, Miles works with UC Davis wrestling coach Mark Muniz.

But everyday, Miles sees his family and makes it home for dinner with his parents Tom and Ronda Miles, sister Cassey Miles-Broder and her husband Jake Broder.

Smith, who has trained with Miles on and off again for the past four years, said Miles was brought up in a good family and has always been a family-oriented guy.

“When there’s a birthday for his niece, no one misses it,” Smith said.

To Miles, family means everything, he said. Miles said everything he does, comes down to his family and he shows his family’s pride with his body art.

On his left arm, Miles has a tattoo of his son’s name and the day he was born. On his chest and his back he has his parent’s, sister’s and brother-in-law’s names.

Miles was born and raised in Loomis, and when he started fighting in the UFC, he moved back in with his family. Ronda said the family was very supportive and has never missed one of his matches. While the family cheers a lot in the stands, she said it’s still nerve-wracking to watch her son compete.

“There’s nothing like sitting down and watching someone try to choke out your child or hold him down,” Ronda said.

Miles stars on the newest season of the Ultimate Fighter, a reality show that airs on Spike TV, where the winner of the show earns a contract with the UFC. The competition was intense, but Miles said the hardest part of the show was being away from his family for six weeks.

During his time on the show, all lines of communication were cut off and the fighters were not allowed to call, write or visit anyone outside of their house. Miles said he had no idea what was going on back home with his family or his son.

“I’m so close with my family, (the isolation) made it harder for me,” Miles said. “Everyday I see them, all of them, and being away from them you learn what’s most important to you.”

Miles’ road to the UFC started at Sierra College where he wrestled there until he transferred to Sacramento State to earn his bachelors in criminal justice. With his son on the way, Miles was looking for a new line of work.

It was then that Miles ran into Irvine on the street. The two recognized each other since they went to high school together. Irvine was the one who recommend Miles get into UFC since he already had a background in wrestling. After winning several jujutsu tournaments, Miles said his next step was to enter the cage.

Before leaving to film for the show, Miles was a youth correctional councilor for the state. He took a leave of absence, but when Miles came back he said he wanted to pursue a career in the UFC because most fighters only have a short opportunity to compete.

What drew Miles into the UFC was competitiveness of the sport. Miles said he has to become the ultimate athlete. Having to learn several different martial art styles and combine it all when fighting in the cage to win.

“I love to compete with my brain as well as my body,” Miles said. “It’s not just a brawl down the street, it’s a profession.”

While training for the UFC, Miles is working on his masters in criminal justice at Chapman University. He is scheduled to earn his degree by June and said it is important to him and his son’s future.

By earning a degree, Miles said it puts him ahead of the competition in the work force.

“In our family, we don’t let them think (education) ends at high school,” Ronda said.

Thinking about his family and now his son, it pushes him to accomplish everything in life from fighting to his education. Since the day Matt was born, everything Miles does is connected to his son, Ronda said.

Miles wasn’t with Matt’s mother, Kristen Ashby, for long as the two eventually had a falling out. Ashby had disagreements about the UFC but since then has still been a mother figure to their son, Miles said.

From little things ranging from son’s soccer practice or taking him to zoo, Miles said it amazes him how fast his son has grown.

“It’s not really any just one single moment (with my son),” he said. “It’s just a bunch of amazing moments collaborating into one.”

Matthew Beltran can be reached at [email protected]