LAS VEGAS – Just when you think he’s seen it all, Jim Miller keeps adding to his storied career.
The UFC lightweight veteran picked up his first knockout in the organization Saturday at UFC Fight Night 195. Miller (32-16 MMA, 21-15 UFC) put away newcomer Erick Gonzalez in the second round of their main card contest.
Miller connected with a counter left hand that immediately collapsed Gonzalez to the canvas. Although Miller has notched plenty of stoppage wins with TKOs and submissions, this was Miller’s first KO win since joining the promotion in 2008.
“We knew that he was going to drop his hands a little when he throws his shots,” Miller said at the UFC Fight Night 195 post-fight news conference. “I landed some good counter shots throughout my career but just never folded somebody like that.
“It’s a fight. I was planning on it being painful and getting mat burn like I did again. Like I’ve always said, fighters hurting is like a swimmer getting wet. It’s part of the game. Just being in that scrap, I was ready to bite down on my mouth piece and throw. That’s what happened, and I landed a good shot.”
Despite having close to 40 fights logged with the UFC, Miller admits the KO win brought a refreshing feeling. He’s happy with the result and hopes to return again in early 2022.
“This old dog has a couple of new tricks,” Miller said. “It’s just the way it goes. There’s a little voice in my head that said, ‘Pounce on him. Try to choke him.’ I knew there’s that little bit of difference when someone is hurt and when someone is out, and I felt it. It’s like hitting water. It’s a soft feeling when you hit someone good. It’s weird. I felt it, and I saw him buckle.
Jim Miller finds way to surprise himself at UFC Fight Night 195: ‘Never folded somebody like that’
