Jim Miller on ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone Bout: ‘This Will Be an Exciting Fight If It Lasts Long Enough’

UFC lightweight Jim Miller knew he’d eventually have to fight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. He was right in his thinking. At UFC Fight Night 45 in Atlantic City the two will meet in the fight card’s main event.

“This is a fight that I knew was coming. Donald and I have been ranked around each other for the last couple of years. Timing-wise, we had never matched up yet. I kind of knew it was going to happen,” Miller recently told The Great MMA Debate Podcast.

Cerrone has been a fighter Miller has kept an eye on for years. In fact, he’s one of Miller’s favorite fighters to watch fight.

“He’s actually one of my favorite guys to watch. He’s a very aggressive fighter. I love his style of fighting, so this is a really exciting one for me to go in there and throw down with a badass guy,” said Miller.

Miller headlines his first UFC event in his home state of New Jersey. Fighting near home has its perks and drawbacks, but Miller is used to fighting on the East Coast. Half of his fights have taken place in New Jersey.

“I’m excited, especially being a main event. It’s my first time as a main event. It’s cool to get that recognition of headlining a card,” he said.

“With friends and family coming, training partners and stuff like that, I don’t really care who is there. If my parents are there, it’s fine. I don’t need them there. I don’t need my wife there. I’m there to do work,” added Miller. “Once I step into the Octagon, I don’t really see anything or hear anything outside of that cage. It really doesn’t matter to me who is there.”

The location of the Cerrone vs. Miller match-up doesn’t really matter. They’re going to meet in the middle of the cage and each is going to try to finish the other.

“The two of us are aggressive fighters. We put that on display. It’s either dominating an opponent or going down in flames,” said Miller.

“I don’t think Donald or myself have ever coasted in a fight, or just tried to win a round or something like that. This will be an exciting fight if it lasts long enough to be exciting.”