Jim Miller discusses why he wanted to stay on UFC 276, rematch with Donald Cerrone
UFC veteran Jim Miller opens up on why he wanted to stay on UFC 276 and his rematch with Donald Cerrone eight years later.
Just recently, UFC veteran Donald Cerrone lost his opponent Joe Lauzon on the day of his fight, he and the UFC moved quickly to get his next fight scheduled. Luck would find Cerrone as Jim Miller lost his scheduled opponent for UFC 276, and the UFC moved quickly to book a rematch between two highly respected and exciting veterans.
Now, Jim Miller will meet Donald Cerrone at UFC 276 in a welterweight contest that was put together on very short-notice. This will be Miller’s 40th fight with the UFC promotion while his opponent has 47 combined appearances between the UFC/WEC, so they both have an understanding of the fight game. Given his experience, the late-notice change of opponent is nothing new for Miller, and given all the training and sacrifices he makes going into each and every fight, he was focused on remaining on the UFC 276 card.
Speaking to Sirius XM’s Fight Nation, Jim Miller detailed why he didn’t want to have his fight date changed and how his commitment to training and planning keeps him ready despite any last-minute opponent changes.
"I remember what he did to me the first time we fought but that was eight years ago. I'm expecting a tough fight against a seasoned veteran."@JimMiller_155 breaks down his upcoming fight at #UFC276 with Donald Cerrone with @DinThomas and @AngieOverkill pic.twitter.com/IAPDQcO1N2
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) June 29, 2022
“I don’t get offered six fights a year, if I did, I’d be fighting six fights a year. So every time I get this offer and I get this slot on a card, I want to accept it, I want to take it, and I want to do whatever I have to do to make that walk to the Octagon. I was already slotted, I had already put in the time, I had already sacrificed the hard training and time away from my family, telling my kids ‘No I can’t wrestle today cause I feel like shit’. Once I do that, I’m fully committed to that fight, because it’s like I just gave up something I love to do, to fight. So, accepting the fight [against Cerrone] was easy.”
After their first fight eight years ago, Miller and Cerrone will meet, now with them having 70 professional wins between them both, at UFC 276 adding another chapter to their respective careers. Knowing that he lost to Cerrone in the second-round by TKO eight years ago, Miller acknowledges that both of them are much different fighters now, and he won’t let history repeat itself this time around.
“We fought eight years ago, I’m not the same fighter and he’s not the same fighter, so I don’t put a lot of weight into it. I remember what he did to me the first time we fought, but again, it was eight years ago. I know where I was at, I know where I’m at now, so I’m expecting a tough fight against a seasoned veteran.”
When Jim Miller and Donald Cerrone meet at UFC 276, it’ll be a fan-favorite delight and for Jim Miller, he’ll be looking to get back a victory from eight years ago.
