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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
After a very exciting submission win over Melvin Guillard on the UFC's first event on FX, Jim Miller finds himself in another featured bout on an even more highly featured card. UFC President Dana White announced on Tuesday night that Miller will take on Nick Diaz on the third UFC on Fox card on May 5.
The May 5 date had been previously reported, but the location and venue were unknown. Not any longer, as White also revealed that the event will come to the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Miller's first round submission over Guillard bounced him back from a decision loss to Ben Henderson, who himself will challenge for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 144 in Japan next month. Miller has won eight of his last nine fights, and has only ever been defeated by Henderson, Frankie Edgar, and Gray Maynard in his 24-fight career.
Diaz is riding high off a very impressive win over Donald Cerrone at UFC 141, his second straight since returning to the lightweight division. The Ultimate Fighter season five winner is only 5-5 in his last ten fights, but four of those wins have come in his last six bouts.
Penick's Analysis: This isn't going to be the main event more likely than not, but it's a fantastic lightweight bout nonetheless. This booking likely means that Anthony Pettis will earn the next title shot in the division should he defeat Joe Lauzon, with the winner of this bout more than likely being in line after that. After seven wins in a row against lesser names in the lightweight division, Miller has been given a much higher workload in this three fight stretch, and a win over Diaz should get him that elusive title shot.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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