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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The timing may not work out for Nate Diaz to get the next UFC Lightweight Title shot after Frankie Edgar gets his rematch, but it's hard to argue against him being next in line after his performance at UFC on Fox 3.
Diaz's return to the lightweight division has seen him post impressive wins over Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone, but the way he handled Jim Miller in their main event bout in New Jersey spoke volumes about where he's come in his career.
Miller tried to press the pace on Diaz early, to not allow him to utilize his range. He had some success in landing strikes and working in the clinch, but Diaz began finding his range midway through the round, and dropped him with a strike late in the frame.
In the second, Diaz was in control of the action, hurting Miller with short combinations, strikes and knees in the clinch, and more. Then as Miller shot in for a desperation takedown attempt, Diaz snatched hold of a tight guillotine choke.
Miller attempted to break free, but Diaz had the choke on tight as they rolled, and Diaz forced him to tap. In doing so, he did something that Ben Henderson, Gray Maynard, and Frankie Edgar could not do, becoming the first person to stop Jim Miller ever.
Penick's Analysis: The UFC's in a tough spot with Diaz here. Do you have him sit out and be the next challenger after the Ben Henderson-Frankie Edgar rematch? Do you book him against Anthony Pettis in September to determine a number one contender? The latter is a reasonable thing to do, but it also would kill a potentially deserving title challenger in a division that desperately needs new blood at the top. Regardless, Diaz was absolutely fantastic tonight, and that legitimately may have been the most impressive win of his entire career. Jim Miller just doesn't get stopped like that, and Diaz pulled it off. It was just an excellent performance, and he deserves to have his name under consideration for a title shot for sure.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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