UFC 208 Media Day Q&A with New Jersey’s Jim Miller

Jim Miller (ESPN)

With UFC 208 taking place this Saturday inside the Barclays Center, media appearances by fighters have begun. Double G Sports was able to interview Jim Miller, a New Jersey native. At 33-years old, Miller has an impressive record (28-8-1) and is currently on a 3-fight win streak. He is looking to continue the streak in Brooklyn against Dustin Poirier (20-5).

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Jim Miller:

Double G Sports: How are you feeling coming into this fight?

Jim Miller: I feel great. Last year I was in my training camp for about 6-8 months. I was able to take some time off, enjoy the holidays a bit and heal up. I’ve been enjoying a nice training camp the past couple of weeks.

DGS: Being from Jersey, how does it feel competing in Brooklyn this weekend after fighting in New York City for UFC 205?

JM: It’s cool to be fighting in New York again. I am not a city kind of guy, but there’s definitely an aura about fighting in New York. I’m very glad to be a part of it.

DGS: At UFC 205 you fought on the FIGHT PASS card. To go from there to being on the main card must be a huge honor, especially in front of friends and family.

JM: At this point, the way the game works, it really doesn’t matter where you are on the card. It’s cool to be on the main card, but when you’re on Fox Sports 1 its nice as well because its on free TV. The way that the UFC is right now, being on the card in any capacity means you’re on the card and you can definitely leave your mark.

DGS: How tough is it to make weight during some of these fights and to adapt to the environment after? We know there was an issue with Thiago Alves at UFC 205.

JM: It’s not that bad. My biggest thing is after I weigh in I’m not trying to move on up, I’m trying to fight at what I train at. Its not the first time someone has missed weight on me. It’s frustrating, but there was a lot more going on during that time. There always is. It was stressful for a little bit, but it definitely got exciting before we left for the venue (Madison Square Garden).

DGS: How are you looking to avoid takedown’s, especially with an opponent who specializes in them?

JM: I go in there and I go to fight. It doesn’t really matter what happens. I’m comfortable off my back, I’m dangerous off my back. I’m also really good on top. If he (Poirier) wants to wrestle/grapple, I’m game. I’m obviously going to try and impose my will and fight to my game plan. Wrestling in MMA is not “wrestling wrestling”. There’s no hand fighting, there’s punching and kicking to work your way into it.

Sometimes it’s really difficult to either prevent a takedown or to get a takedown if you can’t close at a distance, so we’ll see how it goes. If and when the fight hit’s the mat I’m going to be comfortable with that.

DGS: I know in your last two fight’s (Joe Lauzon at UFC on FOX: Maia v. Condit, Alves at UFC 205) you went three rounds. Are you more confident when you make it to the third round or as the fight start’s in the first?

JM: I’m confident in the fight. If I can put someone away early, great! I love the short night’s. A 15 minute fight has never been something I’ve ran away from. I always try to finish my opponents / go out and dominate. I definitely don’t fold in the later rounds.

You can see Jim Miller face off against Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier this Saturday. Coverage for UFC 208 will start at 6:30pm with the FIGHT PASS prelims. The FS1 prelims then start at 8pm before the main card is LIVE on PPV at 10pm.