Jim Miller
James Andrew Miller
(born August 30, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist. He has held the Cage Fury Fighting Championships Lightweight Championship and Reality Fighting Featherweight Championship. He currently fights for the UFC's lightweightdivision.
Martial arts background
Miller began training in mixed martial arts in 2005, when he began training at Planet Jiu Jitsu with his brother Dan Miller. He entered into the sport with a background inwrestling. Miller competed in wrestling in high school at Sparta High School in Sparta, New Jersey as well as one year of collegiate wrestling at Virginia Tech. He currently holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jamie Cruz.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Miller had his first professional fight on November 19, 2005 against Eddie Fyvie at Reality Fighting 10. Miller controlled the fight and earned a unanimous decision. Miller earned two more victories with Reality Fighting, with a Rear Naked Choke victory over Kevin Roddy and an Arm Triangle Choke victory over Joe Andujar. The quick victories earned Miller a title shot and he cut down a weigh to fight Muhsin Corbbrey for theFeatherweight Title. Miller mounted Corrbrey in the second round and punched his opponent before securing an arm for the Armbar victory. At Reality Fighting 14, Miller took on Frank Edgar for the Lightweight Title. Edgar controlled the fight, but Miller secured a tight Guillotine Choke late in the final round. Edgar fought through the choke to earn the unanimous decision and maintain his title.
In the weeks prior to Reality Fighting 14, Planet Jiu-Jitsu closed down. Miller began training at American Martial Arts in Whippany, New Jersey with his brother Dan in January, 2007.
Miller debuted with the Cage Fury Fighting Championships in a Lightweight title fight April 13, 2007 against Evo's Al Buck. Jim fought on the same card as his brother for the first time since Reality Fighting XII and both were victorious. Miller and Buck squared off, but were forced to separate early after an accidental knee to Buck's groin. When the fight resumed, Miller began working for a takedown and after escaping an attempted guillotine, secured a slam, from which he quickly attained the mount and then back, sinking in a Rear Naked Choke for the win.
Miller defended his title for the first time at Cage Fury Fighting Championships 5 against Atlantic City MMA's Anthony Morrison, an event which featured the much-hyped fight between Kimbo Slice and Ray Mercer. Morrison delivered some big slams early, but Miller worked through a chain of submissions before securing the victory by Triangle Choke at 4:56 of the first round to retain his title.
Miller's second defense was scheduled for the Cage Fury Fighting Championships 6 card, where he was to face King of the Cage ChampionClay French, but the event was cancelled a week prior to the event, when a primary investor dropped out.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Jim and his brother Dan were signed to the UFC and made his debut at UFC 89 where he defeated David Baron via Rear naked Choke in the 3rd round. At UFC 100, Miller won a bloody one-sided unanimous decision over Mac Danzig.
Miller was scheduled to face Thiago Tavares on September 19, 2009 at UFC 103, but Tavares was forced to drop out due to a knee injury suffered while training.UFC newcomer Steve Lopez stepped in to replace Tavares. Both fighters exchanged competitively on the feet, but Miller won after Lopez injured his shoulder in round two.
Miller was expected to face Tyson Griffin on January 2, 2010 at UFC 108., but an injury has forced Griffin off the card. Sean Sherk agreed to step up from the undercard and fight Miller, rather than his original opponent in Rafaello Oliveira. Sean Sherk removed himself from the fight because of a cut that required many stitches; returning veteran Duane Ludwig was named as Sherk's replacement. Miller looked comfortable and sharp on his feet exchanging with the seasoned striker in Ludwig, he scored a knockdown halfway through the round with a fast combination and swarmed to secure an armbar, winning by submission at 2:31 of the first round.
Miller faced Mark Bocek on March 27, 2010 at UFC 111. He beat Bocek by a very close unianimous decision. The fight's unanimous decision for Miller has been highly criticized by some MMA fans and websites.
Miller is expected to face Gleison Tibau on September 15, 2010 at UFC Fight Night 22.
Personal life
Jim got married in 2008. The couple had their first child, a daughter named Amelia, in June 2010.
