Las Vegas, NV – Late replacement opponents happen all of the time in MMA as a byproduct of a very physical combat sport, but for UFC lightweight Jim Miller it’s almost gotten ridiculous as he faces yet another late-notice replacement in Jesse Butler at UFC Vegas 74.
“Yeah business as usual. So that’s three in a row that opponents dropped out like two weeks or less from the event. I think it’s 9, maybe 9 times total in my career, with the UFC,” Miller told reporters on Wednesday.
What he didn’t know was that his original replacement opponent Jared Gordon would be pulled from the fight the day before weigh-ins. In came Jesse Butler on very short notice to fight one of the longer tenured fighters in the UFC.
“I train to be the best fighter that I can be every out. At this point I fought everybody from the tall, lanky, 6’4 lefties to guys my height, righties. Grapplers and wrestlers and strikers,” Miller said.
“I appreciate it when guys are willing to step up. Lot of fighters that say ‘anytime, anyplace, anywhere’ and sometimes those guys don’t say yes.”
Dropping out of the fight isn’t something Miller considered. Having fought the who’s who in the UFC he’s seen it all at this point and focuses on just being the best version of himself in the cage.
“I already put in a month of training and been busting my butt. I didn’t want to have to do it for another two months so yeah,” said Miller.
“I want to fight. I want to end my career like I started my career which is being aggressive and fighting and being active. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Jim Miller above. He takes on Jesse Butler at UFC Vegas 74 on Saturday night.
