Lightweight Contenders Miller, Diaz to Meet at UFC on Fox 3
Jim
Miller won’t give Nate Diaz a warm welcome to New Jersey. | Photo:
Dave Mandel
The UFC will showcase all-action 155-pounders with its third appearance on network TV, as Jim Miller and Nate Diaz have agreed to square off at UFC on Fox 3.
UFC President Dana White on Tuesday tweeted news of the bout, which will go down May 5 in Miller’s backyard at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The matchup is the first to be confirmed for the card.
Miller comes fresh off a first-round rear-naked-choking of Melvin Guillard in the main event of Jan. 20’s inaugural UFC on FX show. The win put the 28-year-old AMA Fight Club product back on track following an August decision loss to Ben Henderson, Miller’s first defeat since March 2009.
Diaz, 26, went 2-2 in 2011 but closed out the year with a pair of significant wins. The Stockton, Calif., native followed in the footsteps of older brother Nick Diaz and submitted former Pride star Takanori Gomi in September. On Dec. 30, he halted the momentum of Donald Cerrone, out-boxing the “Cowboy” in sound three-round decision which has once again positioned Diaz on the brink of title contention.
UFC on Fox 3 will mark the promotion’s 11th trip to the Garden State and first visit to East Rutherford since UFC 32 in June 2001, when the Izod was known as Continental Airlines Arena. The event falls on the same night as boxing star Floyd Mayweather’s bout against an as-yet-unannounced opponent at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
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