Announced late Tuesday, January 24, TUF5 winner Nate Diaz and one of the division's top grapplers Jim Miller as part of UFC On FOX 3 on Saturday, May 5. This bout has been announced to decide who will become the #1 contender in the Lightweight (155-146lbs) division, with the victor of this bout expected to take on the winner of the upcoming bout in late February between reigning champion Frankie Edgar and former WEC champion Benson Henderson. Depending on the conditions of both winners of these two upcoming bouts, the eventual meeting between contender and champion will be expected to happen some time before the end of this year.
Diaz will be coming into this bout riding a two fight win streak since returning to the division after going 2-2 attempting to fight in the Welterweight division. Since returning to the division, Diaz has earned a Rnd1 Submission victory over former PrideFC Lightweight champion Takanori Gomi that earned Submission of the Night honors at UFC 135: Jones vs Rampage, and a Unanimous Decision over former 2x WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone that earned both fighters Fight of the Night honors at UFC 141: Lesnar vs Overeem, both being some of the best performances of his career.
Miller will come into this bout following a Rnd1 Submission win over TUF2 alumni Melvin Guillard at the promotion's recent FX debut headlining UFC On FX 1: Guillard vs Miller. This victory followed a Unanimous Decision defeat from Benson Henderson for the chance to fight champion Frankie Edgar. That loss was Miller's first since 2009, and snapped a seven fight win streak that included wins over top grappler Mark Bocek, then undefeated rising prospect Charles Oliveira, and veteran Gleison Tibau.
Though not officially announced, the winner of the upcoming bout between final WEC Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and TUF5 alumni Joe Lauzon will likely produce a contender that could step in as a substitute for either Diaz or Miller if one of them should be forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.
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