Jim Miller Says Rematch With Joe Lauzon Is a Brand New Opportunity

Jim Miller spoke with MMAjunkie about his fight with Joe Lauzon at UFC on FOX 21. Some highlights are below:

On finding out he had Lyme disease: “I was feeling like garbage and performing like garbage as well, if I’m going to be brutally honest. I had some pretty rough performances. I definitely didn’t go out and perform like I’m capable of fighting. It was good to go out and feel that energy I felt two, three years ago inside the cage because it wasn’t there. At least for four fights. It was good to go out and kind of do it for myself. I know I’m capable of fighting.”

On training with Eddie Alvarez: “Leading up to UFC 200 I got the chance to go to Nick Catone’s and get some rounds in with Eddie Alvarez. Here’s a guy that, he’s the champ, he’s the No. 1 lightweight in the world right now and getting the rounds in with him, I felt very confident going into that fight with Gomi. I know that I can compete with the best guys in the world, and it’s just a matter of showing up and being healthy. Fortunately, right now, I’m feeling great. My goal has always been to perform at my best and have that perfect performance and have that perfect fight and live up to the expectations for myself. I know if I do that, a second title run is right there, and I’m going to beat some guys up and have fun doing it.”

On facing Lauzon a second time: “It’s a different fight. I’m going out there to prove the Jim Miller of 2016 is better than the Joe Lauzon of 2016. We had a tough fight last time, but I won. I don’t have it in my head. All I have in my head is that I have a second chance to put him away. Maybe we step into that octagon and the door closes behind him and he envisions those elbows again. I can only hope that it might affect him. For me personally, it’s a brand new fight and a brand new opportunity.”