Jim Miller has a chance to make history at UFC 276 but donāt expect him to start touting records and crowing about numbers with a win over Donald āCowboyā Cerrone on Saturday.
Currently tied with Cerrone and Andrei Arlovski for the most wins in UFC history with 23, Miller can separate himself from the pack with a victory but as much as he appreciates the accolades, the reputation heās earned as a fighter who always stepped up whenever he was called upon matters more.
āBeing that guy [means more],ā Miller told The Fighter vs. The Writer. āThe numbers are cool. Theyāre nothing that I hang my hat on. Itās kind of basically coming down to attrition at this point. Just hanging on. But the fact is, there are a lot of wins, there are a lot of great performances, there are a lot of great fights that created those numbers and created the opportunity to get those numbers.
āItās not just about 40 UFC fights or 23 or 24 wins, this and that. Itās just about fighting for the reason that I fell in love with the sport cause guys wanted to fight and wanted to fight hard. Thatās really what intrigued me about it. Not Twitter. Thatās not what got me into MMA. I try to be the guy that influenced me to come into MMA.ā
At 38, Miller has seen his fair share of ups and downs over the years including a crippling bout with Lyme disease that could have easily robbed him of his fighting career.
Even with that, Miller has stayed incredibly consistent with at least two fights per year dating all the way back to his debut in the UFC in 2008.
While heās never claimed a title during his historic run through the UFC, Miller has outlasted every single champion who was holding a belt when he first appeared in the octagon. To put that in even greater context, Millerās first fight in the UFC came before the promotion had featherweight, bantamweight or flyweight divisions and women didnāt start competing in the organization until four years after his debut.
āThereās definitely a lot of luck involved,ā Miller said about his longevity. āIāve probably been very close to some injuries that would have shortened my career but Iāve also tried to be smart about it and train hard but train intelligently.
āA lot of times, fighters we kind of fall victim to our own ego like itās sparring day, I need to go hard. I need to show these guys whatās up. I need to push because everybody else is doing it.ā
According to Miller, opening his own gym in 2014 was probably the moment that likely saved his career because he was finally able to train the way he needed to continue fighting for years to come.
Rather than constantly beating up his body, the New Jersey native started to take days off when needed while also ratcheting down some of the intensity in the training sessions when he just wasnāt feeling up to it on a particular day.
āIt made it that I wasnāt fighting that ego or those voices that were trying to help but physically I wasnāt capable of doing it that day,ā Miller explained. āIt is crazy to think about.
āCause itās not only the 40 fights. Thatās 320 weeks (over six years) of fight camp basically. Thereās a lot of time spent in actual fights inside the gym to get to those 40 fights. Thatās a lot of risk involved. Thatās a lot of potential injuries that Iāve made it through relatively unscathed.ā
At UFC 276, Miller will actually face Cerrone in a rematch that comes eight years after their initial meeting back in 2014.
On that night, Cerrone blasted Miller with a head kick that ended the fight in the second round, which came in the middle of a long win streak that eventually led to a lightweight title shot.
Lately, Miller has been enjoying a career resurgence with back-to-back knockout wins while Cerrone has openly said he has only two fights left in his career as he looks to rebound following an 0-5 run with one no contest in his past six outings.
None of that matters much to Miller, who actually took this fight up a weight class on just over a weekās notice after his original opponent Bobby Green was forced off the card. Once again, Miller is just doing what he always does ā stepping up when the UFC needs him, although revenge would taste pretty sweet to him in the rematch.
āThe fight years ago is eight years ago now, I feel I could have won,ā Miller said. āHe got the better of me. Set me up good for that head kick but we were still both young, early 30s, in our primes and I feel Iāve been able to hold onto it a little bit better given my recent fights and given his.
āSo Iām looking to go in there and land. When I do, Iām feeling confident that Iām going to put him away.ā
These two could fight 10 times, go 5-5, and each one would be a great match of the ages. Classic striker v grappler but very high level and fan favorites. I do think Miller is right that Cerrone is a shot fighter though.
LLLLLUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
LLLLLUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
He had an improperly diagnosed illness and continued to fight without proper treatment. Since getting that squared, he is on a 2 fight knockout streak. He is a legend and pioneer, and a hell of a nice guy. If you dont think jim miller qualifies at least as a gatekeeper in the ufc, i dont know what to say.
He signed a four fight extension last night, sounds like 300 is going to be July 2024. So if Miller fights twice a year he can make 300 on this contract and go out on his own terms.
Boom, win or lose thats a huge accomplishment. Hope he gets to go out his way.
Jim Miller fought at UFC 100 and 200. He needs to make it to 300 as his retirement fight. That would be legendary
testament to the intelligent strategy of grappling as a martial art, meanwhile 10-15 boxers die each year (estimated)
Make him fight Royce Gracie! A guy that fought in UFC 1!
Did miller get on trt or some shit. He suddenly started turning his career around and noticed his hair getting thick asf. When I was on it my hair got super thick and I about had to shave twice a day.
I agree, would be a shame not to have him on that card. Let him do 3 more fights and retire.
Legends? Maybe.
Pioneer? Hell no.
I mean fine. He didnāt invent ground n pound. But heās been fighting professionally since 2 years before the iphone was released.
Iād down for Lauzon- Miller 3. Or miller- Guida 2.
Or resign Diego to fight all those guys again.
I love watching the best but Iād rather see legends fight each other than facing some 28 year old undefeated Dagastani whoās master of sport in 3 different things.
I donāt even know what master of sport is but they goddamn win a lot.
People like seeing guys who they recognize and Iām
Not sure about Diego but the rest of those guys still have alot left imo
I really like the Diego idea. Although I think Jim would put Diego in the cemetary at this point.
Hereās a fight that has negative zero chance of happening: Jim Miller vs Volk. Just cuz.
Edit for mental masturbation: Amanda Nunes or Julianna Pena pull out and the UFC is looking for a last minute headliner. BAM. Jim Miller vs Volk. Card rescued. UFC send paycheck.
He had Lyme disease for a while and didnāt realize it. He was getting super sick and ended up getting diagnosed and finally got treatment for the symptoms and immediately had a resurgence.
Unfortunately not, but he has looked better than ever since beginning treatment both appearance wise and in the cage.