After somewhat disappointing results in its first two installments, the UFC will try its hand at network television again. This Saturday UFC airs on FOX 3 with a lightweight bout between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller headlining the card.
The undercard fights will take place on Facebook and Fuel TV, with FOX airing the four main-event-level battles. Although Diaz is a solid fighter, this card lacks the star power that the other FOX events have had. With that said, though, there is a good chance that this could be the best of the bunch as there is plenty of depth throughout the lineup.
UFC needs some top-flight contests in order to get some momentum behind the UFC on FOX concept, and this may be just the card to do it. Many fighters will be out to make a name for themselves, as the national exposure provides them a golden opportunity to do so. It remains to be seen if they will grab the brass ring, but there is undoubtedly plenty of potential.
Here is everything you need to know about UFC on FOX 3, complete with when and where to watch every fight as well as an entire fight card for your perusal.
Where: IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
When: Saturday, May 5 (main card starts at 9 p.m. ET)
Watch: FOX, Fuel TV, Facebook
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
Roland Delorme vs. Nick Denis
Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola
Preliminary Card (Fuel TV)
Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Johnson
John Dodson vs. Tim Elliott
John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss
Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker
Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish
Dennis Bermudez vs. Pablo Garza
Main Card (FOX)
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
Josh Koscheck vs. Johnny Hendricks
Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher
Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
Keys to Diaz Victory
Although his latest victory over Donald Cerrone came by way of unanimous decision, Nate Diaz is not a fighter who benefits from going the distance. He has lost just seven times over the course of his career, and six of those have come via the judges’ scorecards. Diaz fares much better in shorter fights, so his goal should be to end this one within the first two rounds.
Diaz is a submission specialist who possesses a devastating array of guillotine chokes and armbars, so he’ll need to do everything in his power to keep Miller close to the mat. Miller is a great submission fighter in his own right, meaning Diaz can never feel too safe, but if he can maintain the upper hand in grapples on the canvas, then Diaz will be in excellent shape.
Keys to Miller Victory
With a career record of 21-3, Miller is the more experienced and slightly more successful fighter at this point, and he will need to use that to his advantage on Saturday. Miller is at his best on the mat just like Diaz, but he may be best off sticking mostly to strikes in this match. While going for submissions would play into his own strengths, it would be beneficial to Diaz as well. When it comes to fighting in an upright position, though, Miller is the better competitor.
While Diaz will desperately be trying to end the fight early, Miller should try to prolong it. He probably isn’t going to get Diaz to tap out anyway, so standing toe to toe and slugging it out would be a good idea. It may not be Miller’s first choice, but he is more than capable of doing it, and I like his chances of beating Diaz in a fight that goes the distance.
Prediction
Diaz is coming off a big victory over Cerrone and I expect him to keep his momentum rolling. If Diaz can keep Miller in a controlled position on the mat for the majority of the fight, even if he doesn’t get him to tap out, it will score him a ton of points. Diaz seems like the better fighter currently and because of that he gets the nod.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com