Longtime UFC lightweight contender Jim Miller has used his fists and feet to piece together one of the most exciting career fight libraries in the history of the sport.

The Sparta, New Jersey, native admits that he doesn't fight for the adulation of the spectators. He competes to test the hard-earned skill set he has developed over years and years of training and competing. He leaves it all in the cage for all of the time lost with friends, family, and loved ones. Don't get it confused, he truly appreciates the support, but he feels those who passionately follow MMA ruckus would benefit from more education in the fine details and intricacies of the sport.  

"I don't fight to be exciting for the fans," Miller said. "There is still a large segment of fans that don't know much about the sport. It's the same with baseball, football, and other sports. I am not going to go out there and cater to those people. I am going to cater to technique. I am trying to go out and beat the hell out of my opponent. But when you hear the roar of the crowd, my hair is standing up now talking about it, it is an awesome experience."


Nov 12, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Jim Miller (red gloves) fights Thiago Alves (blue gloves) during UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Miller, 33, recently posted a picture on social media after he had to find a new home for the shadow box of his UFC 100 fight kit to make room for his newly framed UFC 200 gear. The incredible accomplishment of competing on two monumental fight cards brought on a momentary reflection of his own longevity, sacrifice and long-term success in the hurt business.

The proud owner of six UFC Fight of the Night and three "Submission of the Night" awards feels he has created his own luck and excelled when given high profile opportunities, win, lose or draw.

"I have had some good opportunities," Miller said. "I have earned them. To my own detriment, I fight with a certain style. I could have won some of the fights I lost had I fought safer. It just never seemed worth it to expend all this time and energy in training to then coast in the fight. I always try to leave it all out there. I don't want to go out there and do just enough to win or not do enough and lose. I don't want to miss opportunities all because I was afraid to get punched in the face, which isn't really that bad. "

After giving his body to the sport for over a decade, permanent wear and tear is to be expected. In the weeks prior to his UFC 200 win against Takanori Gomi in July 2016, however, it was revealed that the tough-as-nails lightweight was suffering from something far more serious than the common fighter ailments. He had contracted Lyme disease, an infectious tick-borne bacterial disease that can lead to severe fatigue among other serious problems.  

"Lyme disease sucks," Miller said. "I was fatigued. I had joint pain. I was in a mental fog. I was twitching. But those are all things you could associate with being a professional fighter for a decade. I went to the doctor, and we ran tests. I got on medicine. It took a few weeks for my knees to feel better. I had to go up and down stairs sideways because going straight down hurt too bad.

"I was on medication for six months, and I was doing fantastic. We tried to go off it before I fought (Thiago) Alves. I started to get a twitch in my eyebrow and I was like 'sh*t!' I have been trying to clean up my diet. That is a huge part of it. I have been trying to change my lifestyle."

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In the young sport of MMA, most fans don't fully appreciate numeric accomplishments like fans in older, more established sports. Outside of the hardcore collective, fans haven't embraced fight-heavy statistical milestones. In what can only be seen as a huge accomplishment, Miller is on the doorstep of becoming the first fighter in UFC history to enter the world-famous Octagon 30 times.

That benchmark number, which is a mere four fights away after his loss to Dustin Poirier in February, is not lost on Miller. In fact, that is one of the most important goals left on his MMA to-do list before retiring from the sport.

"[Lyme disease] put a limiting factor on my career, and I know that," Miller said. "I have given myself a shelf life. I am pretty certain that I will get to 30 fights in the UFC, and that will be it for me. I don't think I am going to be able to beat it. I don't think I am going to push it back. We will see how it goes, but I will definitely get to 30. I am on pace. (Michael) Bisping is the only guy that is fighting that has more fights than me. I am pretty certain that I will fight before he fights again. It is going to happen."