UFC legend set to fight on Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic undercard spills longevity secret ahead of 57th MMA fight

Jim Miller has shared a key secret behind his incredible long-term MMA career.

Miller, 41, is among the UFC’s longest serving competitors, having made his debut for Dana White’s promotion 16 years ago in October 2008.

3

He is the only fighter to have appeared at UFC 100, UFC 200 and most recently UFC 300 which took place in April this year.

‘A-10’ holds the record for most fights and wins in UFC history with 26 wins in 44 total fights.

“I get asked that question by other fighters at fights and by the young guys that come,” Miller shared SiriusXM in November when asked how he will continue.

“It is difficult to give a quick answer, and I would be wrong if I did not say that luck and genetics have helped me, because I have certainly been lucky many times.

“I’m about to jump into the gym when we’re done here. I’ve been lucky in the gym countless times where I’ve been super close enough to get hurt and have a career-shortening injury.

“And just come out of it on the bright side. I feel like I was born to do this, but there are a lot of different things that I think have really helped my life. And one of them is cut.”

Miller has fought some of the biggest stars in MMA history, including Nate Diaz, Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier and Donald Cerrone.

One of the most notable things about his lifetime is the Lyme disease he suffered in the build-up to his UFC 200 fight in 2016, which he won after stopping Japan’s Takanori Gomi in the first round.

Miller wasn’t as successful during his last Octagon appearance at UFC 300, but still managed to go the distance with fellow MMA veteran Bobby Green, who lost to Paddy Pimblett in his next fight.

“You know I went from one of the bigger gyms in New Jersey, right?” Miller added, revealing how cutting back on the MMA gym he trained at was key to his success.

3

“We had half a dozen UFC fighters at one point when I was training at the other place, and we were also dealing with the big issues with the gym.

“Sometimes it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m training for a game,’ while there are other guys that are going to be training for games or guys that are trying to make their mark and step up to the next level.

“And sometimes fighters don’t play by the rules. There’s kind of some of those unwritten rules in training. And one of my big ones is if it doesn’t have a pad on it, don’t throw it.

“During practice. Like, yeah, we can throw elbows in a fight. But if you’re not wearing elbow pads, you better not throw elbows.

“And if you’re not wearing the knee pads, which cost $35, you shouldn’t throw knees.

“I’m (also) not a big fan of, you know, the full sparring, throwing a lot of the spinning stuff. Because in heels and forearms, I’ve seen a lot of blown noses from spinning back fists hitting the forearm.

“So, like, I reduced my training group. It cost me some really good training partners. But I feel like it’s helped me train better, train smarter, train safer for the last decade.”

3

Miller’s opponent at UFC 309 is 36-year-old Damon Jackson, who made his debut for White’s promotion in August 2014 and has won six of his 13 total fights.

Jackson previously fought current UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, but was knocked out after two and a half minutes in the first round during their December 2020 bout.

Jon Jones faces Stipe Miocic in UFC 309’s main event, while Oliveira takes on the returning Michael Chandler in a five-round co-main event.

UK fans can watch Miller vs Jackson in the preview from 1 GMT this Sunday and the main event from 3 live on TNT Sports Box Office.