7 Questions With UFC Lightweight Jim Miller

(Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC lightweight Jim Miller has the opportunity of a lifetime when he takes on Nate Diaz in the headlining bout of UFC on FOX 3 this Saturday night in East Rutherford, NJ. With an 8-1 record in his last nine fights, Miller is one of the best fighters in the UFC lightweight division and will have the opportunity to perform in front of a network audience for the first time in his career.

As Miller closes in on the biggest fight of his career on  May 5, he took the time to speak with FightCove.com for this edition of 7 Questions.

Mike Bohn: Looking back at your last fight. How do you feel about your performance against Melvin Guillard? Name one positive and one negative you took away from the fight?

Jim Miller: I am happy that I got the finish but I took a couple good shots before I finished him. Positive = win, the negative is I got hit with a big punch.

Mike Bohn: Was Guillard the hardest hitter you’ve ever fought? Do you have a newfound confidence in your ability to take a punch after that fight?

Jim Miller: Melvin is definitely the hardest puncher I faced. I always had confidence in my chin but now a little more.

Mike Bohn: How is your preparation coming along for your May 5th fight against Nate Diaz? Are you bringing in anyone special to help you prepare for his style?

Jim Miller: I am very well prepared and have been working with my teammates & coaches at AMA Fight Club & Martin Rooney for Strength & Conditioning.

Mike Bohn: You and Nate are both very accomplished jiu-jitsu fighters. How do you think your grappling matches up against Nate’s?

Jim Miller: Nate is very tough and a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu but so am I so I am confident in my own ability.

Mike Bohn: Diaz has lost UFC fights to Dong Hyun Kim, Gray Maynard, Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson. All four of those men share similar –albeit slightly different- strengths as you. Are you looking at those fights as a blueprint on how to beat Diaz?

Jim Miller: I will write my own blueprint congruent to my style.

Mike Bohn: After the ticket sale press conference in New York, Nate said in an interview he was under the impression the winner of your fight would get the next title shot at 155 pounds. Were you under the same impression and does it bother you they gave Frankie Edgar an immediate rematch for the title?

Jim Miller: Frankie is a great champion and deserved the rematch. I am only concerned about one fight and that is vs. Nate (Diaz) on May 5th at UFC on FOX 3.

Mike Bohn: Name two of your goals for 2012. One related to your MMA career and one unrelated to fighting.

Jim Miller: To prove to the world that I am the best lightweight fighter & to continue to be the best husband & father that I can be.

Special thanks to Jim Miller and his manager Mike Constantino for setting up the interview. Follow them on Twitter at @JimMiller_155 and @AMAFightClub