UFC “Quick Break”: Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller

Whether you just have a short downtime during work, or don't want a lengthy breakdown, these “Quick Breaks” are for you. "Quick Breaks" are short breakdowns of upcoming fights. In a summed up focus of strengths, weaknesses and variables; this will analyze what could happen in the fight, and end with this writer’s prediction. 

This Saturday, the UFC will return to New Jersey to put on FOX’s third UFC event. Headlining the card is a lightweight showdown between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller. Both men are trying to climb the ladder to the title, especially Diaz, who will earn himself a shot with a win over Miller. Diaz and Miller both have brothers in the UFC, and this fight will be a showdown between the two younger brothers. 

Nate Diaz is currently 15-7 and on a two-fight win streak. While his attitude and personality is love-or-hate in nature, there’s no denying the fact his skills as a fighter are proven and tried. He has submitted 10 of his 15 opponents, but now faces his match on the ground in Jim Miller. Miller is 21-3 and coming off of one win. Out of those 21 victories, 12 of them have come via submission. 

This is a fight that can go either direction very quickly if it goes to the ground. If it will go to the ground is yet to be seen, but every fight starts standing. This is where both men will be able to prove who is the better striker out of the two submission artists. Neither man has ever lost by knockout or TKO, but rather by decision. Diaz does carry a single loss via submission, but that was back in 2006. If this fight does not go to the ground, there is a good chance one of these men walk away with a decision win. 

Standup edge will have to go to Diaz, while the ground game slightly goes to Miller. While Miller is no slouch on his feet, the 5-inch reach advantage for Diaz will certainly help him in this fight. Once again, because of the styles of these two fighters, this is one that may very well go to decision. Their skills are closely matched, so a split decision wouldn’t be surprising. While typically we would be looking at a first-round submission for these fighters in other matches, both men are intelligent when it comes to submission defense and essentially might cancel each other’s games out. 

Prediction: Nate Diaz wins via Decision 

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