Disappointed with his recent Unanimous Decision defeat at the hands of Chael Sonnen, New Jersey’s favorite middleweight, Dan Miller, is eager to get back on track inside the Octagon. Next up on the list for the newly-crowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Jamie Cruz is an upcoming main card battle with ADCC Champion Demian Maia. Maia is — to put it bluntly — the kind of fighter that eats black belts for breakfast. With both men coming off of losses, Miller believes that his stand-up skills, wrestling, and overall MMA game will give him what he needs to pull out the victory when UFC 109 kicks off on Saturday, February 6 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tapology’s Steven Kelliher recently caught up with Miller to discuss his most recent performance, his thoughts on going to the ground with Maia, and where he stacks up with the upper echelon of the UFC’s middleweight division.
Tapology: I’d like to start by talking about your last fight against Chael Sonnen. Can you talk about what went wrong in that fight and whether or not Sonnen surprised you?
Miller: I didn’t have the greatest training camp going into that fight. I just went in and tried to do my best, but he came in with a great game plan and basically just beat me down. He took me down and controlled me and I couldn’t really do anything.
He’s a strong kid, but I was expecting that. His control was really good and he played a smart top game. He has been known to get caught in submissions, but he fought well.
Tapology: What did you take out of that loss in a positive way?
Miller: I’ve improved everything in my training, so I’m looking to come back stronger and better.
Tapology: How has this training camp differed from the last one?
Miller: This training camp has been going really well. It’s been a little bit longer than most, but I’ve been training smart and staying healthy.
Tapology: Are you going to be paying close attention to the fight between Chael Sonnen and Nate Marquardt that is also going to be on the main card of UFC 109?
Miller: I’ll probably be watching it, but I don’t know where I’m going to be at in the division after this fight. If I win, hopefully I’ll be back toward the top of the division, but you never know.
Tapology: You are scheduled to fight Demian Maia on the main card of UFC 109. How did that fight come about?
Miller: They offered it up and there was no hesitation on my end. It’s a fight that I’ve wanted for a little bit now and I think it’s a good match-up for me. He’s a really tough opponent and he’s got a good name, so I think if I can win this fight it will put me back on top.
Tapology: What are your thoughts on the fight overall? How do you think you match up with him on the ground?
Miller: I think Demian is a great fighter with phenomenal Jiu-Jitsu, but I have better striking and better wrestling, and I think I can survive on the ground with him. I just want to go out and win the fight. If it happens to go to the ground and I have to do it there, then we’ll see, but I’d like to finish him.
He is obviously a different level black belt than I am. I think he is light years ahead of most people, so it’s going to be tough. I think I’ll be able to keep it on the feet for a while, but I’m expecting to hit the ground, so hopefully I can hang with him and get back to my feet. I think it’s going to be a really good fight, an exciting fight, so hopefully the fans will enjoy it.
Tapology: How do you think you stack up with the top of the UFC’s middleweight division going forward?
Miller: I really don’t know how I stack up. Hopefully after this fight we will know. If I win I should be right up there with everybody else.
Tapology: Thanks for the time Dan.
Miller: Thank you.
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