Sunday, February 12, 2012

UFC on FX 1, It's Miller Time

Jim Miller was, at one time, the hottest prospect in the lightweight division, and the most talked about fighter, short of the champ.
Most expected to see Miller fighting champion Frank Edgar for the UFC Lightweight Title in a rematch of their previous clash in the Reality Fighting promotion in New Jersey. The fight ended in a unanimous decision nod for Edgar. After suffering the first loss of his professional career, Miller at 5-1 went on a tear, shredding through his next eight opponents before running smack into Gray Maynard.
His eight-fight streak, which included a unanimous triumph over Bart Palaszewski, saw him finish all but two of his opponents. Entering the fight with Maynard, many thought it would be grappler versus wrestler, but it turned out to be mostly a standing affair. Miller attempted several takedowns, but just could not get the former Michigan State wrestling product to the ground. Maynard was simply the better fighter all around, and walked away with the unanimous nod.
Miller was forced to reevaluate his game plan, as he had just been embarrassed on the feet by a mediocre striker. A master of beating adversity, Miller again went on a massive win streak, seven in total. This streak was much more impressive than his previous one, because all seven wins were against UFC competition. He finished four of his opponents, two by submission, and two by knockout, including a spectacular finish of the previously unbeaten Kamal Shalorus.
After beating 7 fighters in the top promotion in the world, it would make sense that Miller be given someone from the upper echelon. He was given former WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson. Not a top five guy, but definitely in the title hunt.
The fight panned out much as the Maynard fight was expected to. There was a lot of grappling, which saw Henderson dominate from top position. The first round saw the two engage in the grappling game early on. They latched up in the clinch just seconds into the fight, and shortly thereafter Henderson scored the first takedown. Miller scrambled from the bottom, attempting an array of submission holds, but was unable to stick any. Henderson closed out the round with some short strikes.
The second began with some quick striking on the feet, but didn’t stay there very long. Henderson scored another takedown, and opened a cut above Miller’s eye with strong elbows. Miller, again attempted to grab hold of every submission in the book, and came close with a kneebar, but Henderson found his way out. Henderson continued to sit on top of Miller, nullifying his submissions, and punishing him with strikes from the top.
A frustrated Miller entered the third round fairly winded. Two solid rounds of Henderson imposing his will on him had taken its toll, and Henderson got him down easily. After a few time up and down, Henderson was able to control Miller on the ground, attempting a few submissions of his own, while still peppering him with ground strikes. Henderson, the clearly fresher of the two, dominated Miller to close out the fight. Henderson walked away from the fight with the unanimous victory; one judge even awarded him a 10-8 final round.
It seemed Miller’s weakness had been exposed. Put him in the cage with a superior wrestler, someone who can nullify his submissions, and he will lose his form and crumble. Still, having come back from his previous two losses in spectacular fashion, the future looks very bright for Miller.
Scheduled to face off with Melvin Guillard this weekend at UFC on FX 1 in Nashville, Tennessee, Miller can get back into the title picture with a win over the knockout artist. Guillard is undoubtedly the better wrestler here, but he hasn’t made a name for himself in the UFC for his brutal takedowns, he has done it with his explosive hands. With Guillard clearly being rather susceptible to the submission, he will look to avoid the ground at all costs, as is usually his game plan. Miller is relatively comfortable off of his back, and will welcome the ground game.
Look for Miller to use his striking to set up a takedown. He could even stand to pull guard against Guillard, as he can easily submit him from his back. Guillard better end this one quick, lest he face Miller’s spectacular submission holds. If he can’t get the first one, he will keep trying, and eventually sink one in. As evidenced in his fight with Henderson, he will not give up on his submissions. Miller takes it by submission in the second round.

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