Most hardcore fans agree that Jim Miller has been one of the more exciting and consistent fighters to ever grace the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Like all fighters, his skills have eroded over time, and at the age of 35, his best days appear to be behind him.
As Miller prepares to meet White, here are some of the numbers that have come to define him:
13: Years of MMA training. Miller started his journey in 2005 at Planet Jiu-Jitsu, a gym in Sparta, New Jersey. Before the year was out, he signed up for his first professional bout and earned a decision over Eddie Fyvie under the Reality Fighting banner. Two quick victories followed, leading Miller to a title shot with the promotion.
2: Rounds needed to snatch the Reality Fighting lightweight championship from Muhsin Corbbrey in August 2006. Miller submitted Corbbrey with an armbar 3:35 into the second round.
15: Minutes fought against future lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at Reality Fighting 14. The two New Jersey natives gave regional fight fans a glimpse of what was to come at the highest level of the sport. Edgar won by unanimous decision, handing Miller his first defeat.
2: High-octane bouts with Joe Lauzon. They first met at UFC 155, where Miller stepped in for an injured Gray Maynard to challenge “The Ultimate Fighter 5” semifinalist and won by unanimous decision. They faced each other in a rematch at UFC on Fox 21, where Miller again emerged victorious, this time by split decision.
1: Round required to submit Al Buck and claim the Cage Fury Fighting Championships lightweight title on April 13, 2007. Miller dispatched Buck with a rear-naked choke 1:58 into the opening stanza.
8: Consecutive wins following his loss to Edgar. Miller did not skip a beat, going on a tear that included victories over Matt Wiman and David Baron in the UFC.
1: Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title eliminator in which he has appeared. Miller was booked opposite Nate Diaz in the UFC on Fox 3 main event. Diaz submitted Miller with a second-round guillotine choke.
3: “Submission of the Night” bonuses banked. Miller choked out Baron at UFC 89, kneebarred Charles Oliveira at UFC 124 and choked out Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX 1, drawing additional compensation in all three performances.
6: “Fight of the Night” awards earned. Miller has engaged in numerous battles throughout his run in the UFC, though his scraps with Lauzon (twice), Dustin Poirier, Michael Chiesa, Pat Healy and Matt Wiman stood out above the rest.
16: Wins in the UFC lightweight division, tying him with Gleison Tibau for most on the all-time list at 155 pounds. Miller has 17 wins with the promotion, with one of them coming at a catchweight.