Jim Miller embodies blue-collar living: hard-nosed, rugged, no-nonsense and focused. Those traits have served him well during an outstanding mixed martial arts career that has seen him lose just three times, all decisions, in 24 professional appearances. Now 28 and in the heart of his competitive prime, Miller finds himself with a secure place at the Top 10 table at 155 pounds, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner Nate Diaz seated across from him.
“For me, personally, I don’t really care where I’m fighting,” he said during a pre-fight teleconference. “I’m still fighting a tough, world-class opponent. It really doesn’t matter if we were fighting here in Jersey or in his hometown. It is a little bit of an advantage not having to travel. Not having to deal with that is always nice. When it comes down to really the meat of it, it doesn’t matter. I’m still fighting Nate and would be excited to fight him anywhere in the world.
“I’ll have a pretty decent crowd there for me,” Miller added. “I definitely feed off the energy. If they give me a good cheer as I make my way to the Octagon, I’ll definitely get goose bumps and hopefully ride that energy to a victory if I can.”
The paths of Miller and Diaz intersect at an interesting stage in the careers of both men. Should he win, Diaz appears to be in prime position for a crack at the lightweight crown. Miller -- who has already lost to the top three 155ers in the UFC, including reigning champion Benson Henderson and former titleholder Frankie Edgar -- concedes his road may be a bit more uncertain. Much hinges on his forthcoming performance.
“It really depends on how the fight goes,” he said. “I’m just focused on this fight, and whatever happens after that is of no concern to me right now. If I can win impressively, then, really, who else are they going to put in there [to fight for the belt]? I’m not even focused on it. It’s really the last thing on my mind right now. I’m just focused on Nate and getting the win.”
Still, Miller would relish an opportunity at a rematch with either Henderson or Edgar after they collide for a second time at UFC 150 on Aug. 11 in Denver.
“I’m a different fighter than when I fought each of them,” he said. “They’re both really talented guys. I have a lot of respect for [both] of them.”
First, he must deal with Diaz.
“It’s going to take the best of everything I have to beat him,” Miller said. “That’s what’s got me so excited and so fired up for this fight. It’s a tough challenge, and I’ve trained harder than I ever have in my career and feel better than I’ve ever felt.”
Diaz has looked like a million bucks since returning to the lightweight division after a brief tour at 170 pounds. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Cesar Gracie, he battered and submitted former Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Takanori Gomi at UFC 135 in September and then ran circles around Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts standout Donald Cerrone at UFC 141 three months later. Cerrone played right into his foe’s capable hands, as he was lured into the infamous Diaz bravado and found himself on the wrong end of a ruthless beating for three rounds. Miller has no plans to share in such a fate.
“When we’re in there, I’m trying to fight my fight, and that’s it,” he said. “If he’s trying to push the pace or trying to use his length, then, obviously, I’m not going to want to do that. There are things that I’m good at, so that’s where I’m going to try to keep the fight -- just go out there and fight and not let any emotion or any of the outside stuff get into the fight. I think that’s what happened to Donald. He kind of got caught up in it a little bit leading up to the fight, and Nate punished him for it.”
Miller, who has never fought beyond three rounds, does not believe conditioning will be a factor for either man in a scheduled 25-minute main event.
“He’s shown he’s got great cardio,” Miller said. “[The game plan is] not necessarily just to wear him down; it’s to keep the pressure on him and fight like I always fight. I know that if I control the fight I’m going to win, and if I let him control the fight he’s going beat me. It’s doing things my way and fighting my way that’s going to get my hand raised.
“I’m prepared for a 25-minute fight,” he added. “I’m capable of doing it and ready to do it if I have to, but, of course, I’m looking for that impressive sub finish or knockout finish. That’s what drives every fighter that steps inside there. They want to hear the roar of the crowd when they finish somebody. That’s what I’ve been training to do -- to be dangerous -- but I’ll be just as good in the 24th minute of the fight.”
Diaz’s past issues with hearty wrestlers has been well-chronicled, as evidenced by decision losses to Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Gray Maynard, Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald. Miller averages better than two successful takedowns every 15 minutes, according to Fight Metric figures. While he fits the mold of previous Diaz nemeses, he anticipates the need to call upon all of his weapons.
“They guys that have been able to beat him have used their wrestling, but I expect him to have gotten better and learned from those defeats, just like I learn from my defeats,” Miller said. “It’s just one aspect of the game, and it’s all how I end up using it. Really, it’s using everything to beat him, using strikes, wrestling and the grappling. It’s going to be a tough fight.
“I’m training to be able to stop him anywhere, whether it be on the feet or on the mat,” he added. “A majority of my wins have come by sub, so if I can create the opportunity to lock something up, I’m sure I’m going to try my damndest to finish him with it. He’s a tough guy. It’s not an easy task. We’ll just see how it goes.”