Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jim Miller (fighter)

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jim Miller (fighter) made an impact.

Jim Miller is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC's Lightweight division. He holds UFC records for most bouts, total wins, and Lightweight division wins. He is the younger brother of former UFC fighter Dan Miller.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

November 19, 2005: First Professional Fight

On November 19, 2005, Jim Miller had his first professional fight against Eddie Fyvie at Reality Fighting 10, controlling the fight and earning a unanimous decision.

2005: Began MMA Training

In 2005, Jim Miller began training in mixed martial arts at Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Sparta, New Jersey with his brother Dan Miller.

January 2007: Training at AMA Fight Club

In January 2007, Miller began training at AMA Fight Club in Whippany, New Jersey with his brother Dan after Planet Jiu-Jitsu closed down.

April 13, 2007: Cage Fury Fighting Championships Debut

On April 13, 2007, Jim Miller debuted with the Cage Fury Fighting Championships in a Lightweight Championship bout against Al Buck. Miller won via rear-naked choke.

July 2008: UFC Debut

In July 2008, Jim Miller made his debut at UFC 89 where he defeated David Baron in the third round.

July 2008: Signed with UFC

In July 2008, Jim and his brother Dan signed with the UFC.

March 7, 2009: Loss to Gray Maynard at UFC 96

On March 7, 2009, Jim Miller faced Gray Maynard at UFC 96 and lost the fight via unanimous decision.

July 11, 2009: Victory over Mac Danzig at UFC 100

On July 11, 2009, Jim Miller faced Mac Danzig at UFC 100 and won by a one-sided unanimous decision.

September 19, 2009: Victory over Steve Lopez at UFC 103

On September 19, 2009, Jim Miller faced Steve Lopez at UFC 103. Miller won after Lopez injured his shoulder in round two.

January 2, 2010: Victory over Duane Ludwig at UFC 108

On January 2, 2010, Jim Miller faced Duane Ludwig at UFC 108, winning by armbar submission in the first round after an initial knockdown.

March 27, 2010: Victory over Mark Bocek at UFC 111

On March 27, 2010, Jim Miller faced Mark Bocek at UFC 111. Miller was awarded the unanimous decision win after three closely contested rounds.

December 11, 2010: Victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 124

On December 11, 2010, Jim Miller defeated Charles Oliveira via a first round kneebar at UFC 124.

March 19, 2011: Victory over Kamal Shalorus at UFC 128

On March 19, 2011, Jim Miller defeated Kamal Shalorus via TKO in the third round at UFC 128, landing an uppercut and knee to Shalorus's face.

August 14, 2011: Loss to Benson Henderson at UFC on Versus 5

On August 14, 2011, Jim Miller faced Benson Henderson at UFC on Versus 5 and lost the fight via unanimous decision.

January 20, 2012: Victory over Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX 1

On January 20, 2012, Jim Miller faced Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX 1 and submitted Guillard with a rear naked choke after being rocked early in the fight.

May 5, 2012: Loss to Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox

On May 5, 2012, Jim Miller faced Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller and lost the fight via submission in the second round due to a guillotine choke.

December 29, 2012: Victory over Joe Lauzon at UFC 155

On December 29, 2012, Jim Miller faced Joe Lauzon at UFC 155 and won the fight via unanimous decision. The win also gave Miller the most all-time wins in UFC lightweight history.

April 27, 2013: Fight against Pat Healy at UFC 159

On April 27, 2013, Jim Miller faced Pat Healy at UFC 159. He lost the back-and-forth fight by submission in the third round, later overturned to a No Contest due to Healy's positive marijuana test.

December 28, 2013: Victory over Fabrício Camões at UFC 168

On December 28, 2013, Jim Miller faced Fabrício Camões at UFC 168 and secured an armbar for the submission victory at 3:42 of the first round.

April 26, 2014: Victory over Yancy Medeiros at UFC 172

On April 26, 2014, Jim Miller faced Yancy Medeiros at UFC 172, winning the fight via submission in the first round.

July 16, 2014: Loss to Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 45

On July 16, 2014, Jim Miller faced Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 45 and was defeated via second-round knockout.

April 18, 2015: Loss to Beneil Dariush at UFC on Fox 15

On April 18, 2015, Jim Miller faced Beneil Dariush at UFC on Fox 15 and lost the fight by unanimous decision.

July 25, 2015: Victory over Danny Castillo at UFC on Fox 16

On July 25, 2015, Jim Miller faced Danny Castillo at UFC on Fox 16 and won the fight by split decision.

December 10, 2015: Loss to Michael Chiesa at UFC Fight Night 80

On December 10, 2015, Jim Miller faced Michael Chiesa at UFC Fight Night 80 and lost the bout via submission in the second round.

March 5, 2016: Loss to Diego Sanchez at UFC 196

On March 5, 2016, Jim Miller faced Diego Sanchez at UFC 196 and lost the fight by unanimous decision.

July 9, 2016: Victory over Takanori Gomi at UFC 200

On July 9, 2016, Jim Miller faced Takanori Gomi at UFC 200 and won the fight via TKO in the first round.

August 27, 2016: Victory over Joe Lauzon at UFC on Fox 21

On August 27, 2016, Jim Miller faced Joe Lauzon at UFC on Fox 21 and won the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

November 12, 2016: Victory over Thiago Alves at UFC 205

On November 12, 2016, Jim Miller faced Thiago Alves at UFC 205 and won the fight by unanimous decision after Alves missed weight and was fined.

February 11, 2017: Loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 208

On February 11, 2017, Jim Miller faced Dustin Poirier at UFC 208 and lost the back-and-forth fight by majority decision.

July 8, 2017: Loss to Anthony Pettis at UFC 213

On July 8, 2017, Jim Miller faced Anthony Pettis at UFC 213 and lost the fight by unanimous decision.

October 28, 2017: Loss to Francisco Trinaldo at UFC Fight Night 119

On October 28, 2017, Jim Miller faced Francisco Trinaldo at UFC Fight Night 119 and lost the fight by unanimous decision.

April 21, 2018: Loss to Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 128

On April 21, 2018, Jim Miller faced Dan Hooker at UFC Fight Night 128 and lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

September 8, 2018: Victory over Alex White at UFC 228

On September 8, 2018, Jim Miller faced Alex White at UFC 228 and won the fight via submission in the first round, becoming the first UFC fighter to reach 30 fights and win 17 fights in the Lightweight division.

December 15, 2018: Loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC on Fox 31

On December 15, 2018, Jim Miller faced Charles Oliveira in a rematch at UFC on Fox 31 and lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission early in the first round.

April 27, 2019: Victory over Jason Gonzalez at UFC Fight Night

On April 27, 2019, Jim Miller faced Jason Gonzalez at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson and won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

August 3, 2019: Victory over Clay Guida at UFC on ESPN 5

On August 3, 2019, Jim Miller faced Clay Guida at UFC on ESPN 5 and won the fight via a technical submission due to a guillotine choke in the first minute of the first round.

February 15, 2020: Loss to Scott Holtzman at UFC Fight Night 167

On February 15, 2020, Jim Miller faced Scott Holtzman at UFC Fight Night 167 and lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.

June 20, 2020: Victory over Roosevelt Roberts at UFC Fight Night

On June 20, 2020, Jim Miller faced Roosevelt Roberts at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov and won the fight via verbal submission due to an armbar at 2:25 of the first round.

August 15, 2020: Loss to Vinc Pichel at UFC 252

On August 15, 2020, Jim Miller faced Vinc Pichel at UFC 252 and lost the fight by unanimous decision.

February 13, 2021: Fight Cancellation at UFC 258

On February 13, 2021, Jim Miller was scheduled to face Bobby Green at UFC 258, but the fight was cancelled when Green collapsed after the weigh-ins.

April 10, 2021: Loss to Joe Solecki at UFC on ABC 2

On April 10, 2021, Jim Miller faced Joe Solecki at UFC on ABC 2, where he lost the fight by unanimous decision.

September 18, 2021: COVID-19 causes fight cancellation

On September 18, 2021, Jim Miller was scheduled to face Nikolas Motta at UFC Fight Night 192, but he tested positive for COVID-19 a week before the event and was pulled from the fight. This was the first time in Miller's 49-fight career that he had to pull out of a fight.

October 16, 2021: Knockout Victory Over Erick Gonzalez

On October 16, 2021, Jim Miller faced Erick Gonzalez at UFC Fight Night 195 and won the fight via knockout in the second round. He also received the Performance of the Night award for this victory.

February 19, 2022: Victory Over Nikolas Motta, Ties UFC Record

On February 19, 2022, Jim Miller fought Nikolas Motta at UFC Fight Night 201 and won via TKO in the second round. This victory tied him with Donald Cerrone for the most wins in UFC history, with 23 wins.

July 2, 2022: Victory Over Donald Cerrone, Sets UFC Record

On July 2, 2022, at UFC 276, Jim Miller was rebooked to face Bobby Green, but instead faced Donald Cerrone. Miller won the fight in the second round by submitting Cerrone with a guillotine choke. This victory set the record for the most wins in UFC history.

February 18, 2023: Loss to Alexander Hernandez

On February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219, Jim Miller was originally scheduled to face Gabriel Benítez, but instead faced Alexander Hernandez. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

June 3, 2023: Knockout Victory Over Jesse Butler

On June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46, Jim Miller faced Jesse Butler, after original opponent Ľudovít Klein pulled out, and Jared Gordon was deemed medically unfit to fight. Miller won by knockout in 23 seconds, extending his winning record to 25 wins, and earned his fourth Performance of the Night bonus award.

January 13, 2024: Submission Victory Over Gabriel Benítez

On January 13, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 234, Jim Miller faced Gabriel Benítez and won his 26th UFC bout in the third round by face crank submission. This extended the UFC record for most wins, and earned him another Performance of the Night award.

April 13, 2024: Loss to Jim Green at UFC 300

On April 13, 2024, at UFC 300, Jim Miller faced Jim Green and lost the fight via unanimous decision. With this bout, Miller became the only UFC fighter to have fought on UFC 100, UFC 200 and UFC 300.

November 16, 2024: Submission Victory Over Damon Jackson

On November 16, 2024, at UFC 309, Jim Miller faced Damon Jackson and won his 27th UFC bout in the first round by guillotine choke submission, further extending the UFC record for most wins.