Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, interview
NEW YORK — After losing three fights in a row to top-flight competition during a one-year span, many thought Dan Miller‘s days in the UFC were done. Instead, the New Jersey middleweight was granted a reprieve, one he’s capitalized upon with back-to-back wins.
Why did he get another chance at a time when others are seeking new employment? It certainly doesn’t hurt that he has an “anywhere, anytime” attitude to his fighting career. That approach has repeatedly proven invaluable to the UFC, and they tapped into Miller’s gameness again this week. After originally being matched up with Nick Catone in a UFC 128 prelim, Miller got a call to replace Yoshihiro Akiyama after the Japanese star withdrew from the event following last week’s devastating natural disaster in his home country.
Miller’s acceptance of a bout with Nate Marquardt with just one week to prepare illustrates the dual nature of the short-notice fight. Though a loser of two of his last three, Marquardt is a high-profile fighter who remains considered one of the 10 best middleweights in the world. Because of that, Marquardt represents both a risky proposition and a breakthrough opportunity for Miller.
Everything will work out as God plans it, he says to himself, and walks ahead with faith and positivity. Suffer a setback? Move forward. Facing adversity? Plow ahead. Fight a legend on short notice for the world championship? You better believe it.