Jason "Mayhem" Miller's re-introduction to the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division is a much needed infusion of a hard-nosed marketable personality, but don't expect a title run.
Known for his eccentric entrances Miller (24-7-0) is a gritty scrapper with strong jiu jitsu ability boasting 14 finishes by way of submission. The thirty year old Atlanta, Georgia, native is a winner in two straight bouts and brings with him a nearly cult-like following, which the UFC's 185lbs division is sorely lacking.
Saturday, the UFC announced that the newly signed veteran who will now make his second stint with the promotion is tabbed to face "A-Train" Aaron Simpson (8-2-0) in his return to the octagon at UFC 132, July 2, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Miller is a smart fighter, able to adjust his game depending on the direction of the bout or opportunities provided by his opposition; he possess above average conditioning and is often able to push the pace as the fight wears on, however, his wrestling and speed remain the weaker parts of his arsenal and the former will have to be addressed if he is to become more than a gatekeeper with great entertainment value.
The middleweight division is one with balance at the top, but like others before it, the future suggests that an increasing number of wrestlers are on their way to prominence. Those who are already there such as Aaron Simpson, Yushin Okami, Mark Munoz, and Chael Sonnen all possess the tools to stifle Miller's attack with their grinding top control styles.
The good news? Santiago, Bisping, W. Silva, Maia, and Belfort are all exciting style match-ups for Miller and his immense durability will likely be his greatest asset in such encounters.
The problem? Several of those top contenders are larger and physically stronger than "Mayhem" - who used to compete as light as 170lbs - and could very well take close wins on the back of that strength advantage.
My guess is that Miller will provide some much needed excitement at 185lbs, but will drop a close decision to Simpson in his return to promotion; the UFC will want to capitalize on his draw power, throwing him a better match-up if the first plays out like I imagine it will. Santiago, Silva, or Bisping would all be thrilling but sooner than later Miller will need to re-invent himself to stay relevant, returning to 170lbs.
Jason "Mayhem" Miller is an incredibly durable fighter who often improves as the contest wears on, but his place is not among the 185lbs top 5 elite. You should expect the excitement that makes him so endearing to his fans, but this commentator does not see a title shot in his future. It is however, probably that he can become the mainstay that fighters such as Chris Leben, and/or Lytle have become; there's nothing wrong with building a career like that!
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Instantly creating one of the year's biggest headlines in the world of mixed martial arts, Wednesday evening UFC president Dana White announced via his official twitter account that reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (22-2-0) will defend his place atop the 170lbs division against UFC veteran and Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz (25-7-0). The bout will be contested at UFC 137, which is slated to take place October 29, 2011, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jason "Mayhem" Miller's re-introduction to the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division is a much needed infusion of a hard-nosed marketable personality, but don't expect a title run.
