UFC lightweight veterans Jim Miller and Diego Sanchez have more in common than meets the eye. They both have exactly 33 professional MMA appearances, sporting 25-8 and 25-7-1 records respectively.
They both have black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. They are both widely appreciated by MMA fighters, fans, and media. And they are both perilously close to a trip to the UFC chopping block.
After a tremendous early stretch in the UFC, which culminated in a lightweight title scrap against B.J. Penn, Sanchez has traversed the 145-, 155-, and 170-pound weight classes only to post a 4-4 record over his last eight appearances. He has lost 3 of his last 4 and has not recorded a finish victory since his TKO of Luigi Fioravanti in June of 2008. Nonetheless, Diego’s career has been propelled by his never-say-die spirit and his unhesitating willingness to absorb a beating in order to stay in a fight. His 7 fight-of-the-night bonuses are testament to the Jackson Wink mainstay’s guts.
Miller, too, has seen his share of wars, including back-to-back fights-of-the-night. The first of these was a legendary bloodbath against Joe Lauzon at UFC 155, which you will encounter on many top-10 great fight lists. However, the New Jersey native also finds him on his heels when it comes to his MMA career. With just three wins in his last seven outings, Miller, too, may be in a do-or-die situation.
Most MMA observers are expecting fireworks when these two 155-pounders clash in Las Vegas tonight. One man will emerge from the Octagon with a new lease on life. Will the other put on enough of a show to remain a part of the UFC roster?
