In the hectic world of mixed martial arts Jim Miller seems to be one of the more tame personalities. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The rapidly growing sport is filled with trash-talkers and ego-driven athletes who fight just as hard for a piece of the spotlight as they do for victory inside the cage, and in that equation the New Jersey native seems to get lost. He’s a family man from a rural part of a small state that produces big things, and that’s just the way Miller likes it.

Anyone who has seen Miller compete inside the Octagon knows the ferocity he brings, but most would assume that’s where the excitement ends. Those who follow his career are his social media accounts most likely imagine Miller retreats back into the woods on a hunting excursion or huddles into his backyard sheds to cure meats and brew beer.

While those elements are certainly part of Miller’s life, they fall short of capturing just who he is because there’s so much more to him than meets the eye.

“Oh I’m a multi-layered man of mystery,” Miller says with a laugh. “You never know what I’m going to do next.”

Even though that line could be considered a brush off, it carries a tremendous amount of truth for the lightweight staple. The night before taking a long drive east to Illinois he walked onto a stage in Noblesville, Indiana and brought the house down with a passionate rendition of the George Michael classic “Careless Whisper.”



Swarms of camouflage hat wearing truck owners and their half-tipped female counterparts all out to enjoy a Friday night whistled and cheered him on, while former UFC fighter Chris Lytle stood to his feet and did the same. Miller’s older brother Dan sat back with a huge smile on his face taking it all in as well.

“That crazy son of a bitch is getting into it,” Dan Miller laughed. “Believe me this isn’t anything new. He’s always singing and dancing around at the gym. Jim is nuts.”

Fast forward a 300-mile drive west and a chicken sandwich from a beat up diner in Oglesby, Illinois, and Miller just jumped off the top rope to deliver a double-axehandle smash to a rotund man wearing a speedo and white suspenders. The Miller brothers bumrushed the ring at a small Indie wrestling promotion and once again brought the house down.

The smile on Miller’s face stretched ear to ear in the afterglow of fulfilling his childhood dream, but it was the second monumental achievement within the span of two hours for him.

Just before he took his seat on the stage at the Knights of Columbus, he had the opportunity to meet WWE legend Bret Hart who was working an appearance at DreamWave Wrestling. Miller approached “The Hitman” nonchalantly, but stopped in his tracks when Hart broke away from a different conversation and put the spotlight directly on him.



“You’re Jim Miller,” Hart said in an easy tone. “I’ve watched a lot of your fights and I really enjoy what you do in there.”

Miller’s eyes widened and his face froze in that curious gaze of someone who was just asked to prom by the most popular girl in school. Damn near giddy to be honest.

It took a few seconds for Miller to regain his composure, but he returned pleasantries with Hart and the two men carried on for a bit. There was a mention of Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and “Sharpshooters” before Miller made his exit and returned to ringside.

“Yeah, that was pretty f****** cool,” Miller said the next morning over Continental breakfast. “I got to jump off the top rope AND meet Bret Hart. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday night.” 


In less than a week Miller will step into the Octagon to face Takanori Gomi at UFC 200.

The craziness of his western excursion eventually gave way to the rigors of training camp, and Miller put his blue collar work ethic to the test as he prepared for the Japanese legend. Rather than keep everything in house as he had for recent bouts, Miller made the trek upstate to get time at Catone MMA where he was able to get rounds with the likes of Eddie Alvarez and Frankie Edgar--both of which are also training for big fights in Las Vegas.

While Miller is far from set in his ways, the reason he was able to push himself further during camp is due to nagging injuries and real life stressors falling out of the picture. Miller feels primed and ready for a return to what fight fans are used to seeing from him, but more importantly; Miller is eager to get back to performing up to his own expectations.



“The past two years have kind of been a nightmare for me,” Miller said. “I’m the kind of guy who goes out there and gives everything he has, and when your body has limitations it’s just frustrating. I’ve never pulled out of a fight in my life and there’s more than a few times when I probably should have. I just love to fight and there’s something about putting my name on a contract that means something to me.

“I’m stubborn as Hell but I’ve always shown up to work. That’s the drive my father instilled in us as kids, and I carry it to this day. I just had to fight through some things I was dealing with and I’m happy to put those things in the past. I’m ready to get back to fighting the way I fight. I’m going in there to destroy Takanori Gomi.”

A quick look at Miller’s resume shows he’s faced some of the toughest competition to ever compete inside the Octagon. He’s spent the better part of the past eight years waging war in the deepest waters of a stacked lightweight division, and tested himself every step of the way. Nevertheless, there’s always been one fighter on Miller’s radar he’s wanted to tangle with, and he’ll get the opportunity to collide with Gomi at UFC 200.

“I’ve been watching Gomi fight long before I ever started competing,” Miller said. “He was the best lightweight in the world for years and I’ve always loved his unorthodox style. He’s dangerous at all times, even when he seems off balance, and that’s a guy you have to give your full attention to.

“After my last fight I was ready to make the move up to welterweight because I just wasn’t feeling right in there, but when I saw Gomi’s name come across that was it. My decision was immediate. I wasn’t going anywhere because I’ve wanted that fight for years. I can’t wait to mix it up with him.”

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Miller referenced a potential move to a higher weight class and it was an option created by his recent run inside the Octagon. Miller has found success in only one of his last five showings, and it’s put in him in what he referred to as a “rough spot” where his career is concerned. Miller knows he’s facing a do or die situation in Las Vegas, but the high stakes affair has him fired up in more ways than one.

The 32-year-old has spent much of his time in the UFC at the elite tier of the 155-pound division, and that’s not a position he’s willing to give up. Consistency at the highest level is an incredibly difficult thing to accomplish, and Miller’s longevity is something he’s tremendously proud of.

“I’m one of three people who will fight at both UFC 100 and 200,” Miller said. “If you look at the time between the events I’ve competed three times more than their combined output and I think that says something about my durability. I’m not going anywhere, and Saturday night is where I turn things around.

“I know what I’m capable of and honestly believe I can beat any lightweight on the planet when I fight my game. This is a division where four strong wins will put you in line for a title shot, and that’s where my head's at. I’m looking to start a resurgence at UFC 200 that will carry me into bigger things over the next few years. I’m going to prove I’m back to my old self, and going out there and finishing Gomi is the first step.”