MMA News Forums - Jim Miller Targets Gray Maynard Rematch Following Triumphant UFC 155 Win

Jim Miller targets Gray Maynard rematch following triumphant UFC 155 win | News

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Now that he's dispatched Joe Lauzon, Jim Miller would like to fight the man who was supposed to be in his shoes at UFC 155.

That's Gray Maynard, who previously handed Miller his first loss in the UFC octagon.

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"It will be four years ago in March," Miller told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMA Radio, UFC Radio - MMAjunkie Radio). "To assume it would be a similar fight would be kind of ignorant to what we're capable of as fighters."

Miller (22-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC) put his prowess on display this past Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where he co-headlined the pay-per-view event opposite Lauzon (22-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC). The lightweights fought a grueling three-round fight that left both covered in Lauzon's blood and earned them $65,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus checks.

It was the fifth performance bonus for Miller, who prior to the fight vented about a stretch of disappointing showings inside the octagon.

Maynard (11-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC), a two-time lightweight title challenger, was one of those, and Miller rebounded with a seven-fight win streak that put him in contention for a shot at the belt.

Maynard was supposed to meet Lauzon at UFC 155 before an injury forced him to withdraw from the Dec. 29 event.

Miller doesn't know Maynard's timetable for a return, but he is open to fighting once again on home turf when the UFC returns to Newark, N.J., for an April 27 event.

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"I guarantee you nobody else is asking to fight Gray," Miller said.

A resident of Whippany, N.J., Miller earned his stripes on the Northeast's regional circuit before migrating to the UFC, where he fought three times in his home state with a 2-1 record.

Observers were unanimous in praise for Miller's gutsy performance at UFC 155, which saw him slice open cuts on Lauzon with elbows in the first round. The two collapsed in a bloody heap at the sound of the final bell.

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"It's hell going through it, but there's that sick side of the head that's like, 'This is pretty fun,'" Miller said.

The 29-year-old fighter predicted such an outcome and told his coach's father a week-and-a-half before the fight, "I hope you're not squeamish because there's going to be some blood."

Miller's coach, Mike Constantino, loudly voiced his concern when Lauzon battled back with grappling in later rounds. Running low on energy, Miller kept charging, but he still knew he was being yelled at. Afterward, he jokingly chastised Constantino.

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"First thing I said to him was, 'Don't you ever yell at me again like that,'" he said. "But I could barely get it out."