OLD WAR HORSE
I’m the oldest fighter at UFC 300, but I won’t listen to fans and retire after Dana White called me a journeyman
The fan favourite has fought for MMA's top promotion for the best part of two decades
JIM MILLER will be the oldest fighter to step foot inside the cage this weekend - but don't count on him hanging up his gloves anytime soon.
The veteran lightweight will make the walk to the octagon for a whopping 44TH TIME early on Sunday morning on the prelims of UFC 300.
6
6
6
Standing across from the beloved Miller will be fellow UFC mainstay Bobby Green, who will look to bounce back from a brutal KO loss to Jalin Turner.
As well as having the distinction of being the only fighter on the card to have competed at UFC 100 and 200, Miller will have the honour of being the oldest combatant at the weekend.
Miller will celebrate his 41st birthday in August but insists he has no immediate plans to walk away from fighting after the UFC's 300th PPV card.
He told late last year: "As of today, that's the second fight of 2024.
READ MORE IN MMA
"Years ago when I mentioned, 'I may get to UFC 300 and call it quits,' I was in a very different place.
"Right now, I'm definitely playing it by ear, but I will let you guys know when it's the last one."
Despite being one of the UFC's elder statesmen, Miller has shown no serious signs of slowing down.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: "A lot of it comes down to compromise.
Most read in MMA
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER
6
UFC 300 – Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill: How to watch landmark Las Vegas event
"One of the things that irked me about the build-up to Tony Ferguson's last fight was, 'He's gotta remember who he was!'
"It's like, man, he's not the same guy he was back in 2018.
Alex Pereira's incredible rise from poverty and alcoholism to UFC 300 star
"I know I'm not the same guy I was in 2010, when I was ranked in the top 10 and 9-1 in the UFC.
"When I'm training now, it's like, my No1 goal when I'm on the mats is to stay healthy, first and foremost.
"Not doing anything stupid that I used to do as a young kid because I was more flexible and recovered a lot easier.
"I try to be healthy, I try to be in shape, and those two things are easy. Not train with an ego.
"Then I focus on being sharp at what I'm good at.
"The last thing I'm worried about is what my opponent brings to the table."
6
According to UFC president and CEO Dana White, Miller has made enough during his career to never have to fight again.
During an appearance on The TRUTH podcast, he said: "We got a guy right now who’s 40 years old, and he’s on this hot streak, man.
“His name is Jim Miller. He’s been around forever.
"He’s been around since, like, we bought the company, and he’s still fighting. He’s going to fight on UFC 300.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"And this is a guy who’s been – I guess you could call him a journeyman in boxing, right?
"If you ask most people, they wouldn’t know who Jim Miller is, and the guy’s made millions of dollars.”
6
Topics