UFC 155 Results: 5 Fights for Jim Miller to Take Next

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Miller took care of business at UFC 155 with a unanimous decision victory over Joe Lauzon.

Miller battered Lauzon in the opening frame, opening a nasty gash over his right eye with repeated elbows. Lauzon was a game opponent and threatened with submissions until the final bell, but the lightweight contender got back on the winning track.

Now Miller will set his sights on 2013, and in the UFC's lightweight division, there is no shortage of opponents for Miller to square off against.

Here are five possible fights for Miller to take in his next outing.

Rafael dos Anjos

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An under-the-radar lightweight who is moving up the rankings, Rafael dos Anjos would make for a great fight to see who should move into contender status in the division.

Miller's victory over Lauzon in UFC 155 victory was his first since dropping a title eliminator to Nate Diaz. He still has a couple more fights before being put back in that position, and that's why this fight makes sense.

Dos Anjos is riding a three-fight win streak. He defeated the ultra-tough Mark Bocek at UFC 154 by unanimous decision and brings in a solid all-around skill set to challenge Miller.

This fight could easily be the co-main event of a Fuel or FX card and steal the show.

Joe Lauzon

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Yes, these two just fought. However, it was an extremely fun fight that was only 15 minutes.

Let these two men headline a FX event and duke it out for 25.

Miller opened up the cut on Lauzon's head early in the first round, and that set the tone the rest of the way. It slowed Lauzon down considerably, and by the third round he was visibly weaker. If that cut does not happen, perhaps he finishes one of his submission attempts or makes a late-round comeback. We will never know, but we can see this fight one more time.

Miller isn't going to be challenging for the title until late 2013 at the earliest. In the meantime, he can thrill us with a rematch of the fight of the night at UFC 155.

Gilbert Melendez

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Gilbert Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight champion, will be making his way to the UFC in 2013, and in all likelihood, will be granted an instant title shot. But that is no guarantee. 

If he is not awarded an instant shot at UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, then Miller is a great welcoming party.

Melendez is on a seven-fight win streak over stiff international competition, and if fans are not sure if he's ready for the UFC, then Miller will be a fantastic litmus test for him.

Melendez always comes to fight. The stylistic matchup with Miller would make it an instant high-profile bout.

The fight could even co-main under the next UFC lightweight championship. 

Jamie Varner

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Another tough lightweight that picked up a win at UFC 155 was Jamie Varner. The former WEC lightweight champion and Miller could meet in a pivotal lightweight tilt.

Even though they are not yet on a winning streak, they are clearly two of the better lightweights in the division. Both Varner and Miller will want to find the quickest way back to the top. A fight against one another would do just that.

The winner would likely be only one fight away from challenging for the title.

For the fans, they would be treated to one hell of a scrap. Varner has been nothing less than exciting in his return to the UFC, and Miller's performance at UFC 155 speaks for itself.

Gray Maynard

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Gray Maynard was originally slated to fight Lauzon at UFC 155, but had to pull out with a knee injury.

Miller and Maynard met once before in the Octagon. Way back at UFC 96, Maynard was victorious by a unanimous decision, but both fighters have improved greatly since that night in 2009.

This would be a fight Miller would like to have, as it gives him the opportunity to avenge one of the four losses on his record.

Both fighters picked up big wins following big losses, and they have the chance to add to their resume with another high-profile lightweight bout against one another. It is a match that makes a lot of sense for both fighters and would surely please the fans.