155 lbs: Duane Ludwig vs. Jim Miller
Odds: ( Ludwig / Miller)
In a very compelling Lightweight matchup, submission wizard Jim Miller will face kickboxing master Duane “Bang” Ludwig, a last-minute replacement for the injured Sean Sherk, who was himself a replacement for injured Tyson Griffin. This is a very dangerous matchup for Miller, who was training for two guys who get the job done with wrestling and their ground games, and who must now face Ludwig, easily one of the most dangerous strikers in the world at Lightweight.
Jim Miller, a wrestler and jiu jitsu expert with an awesome track record of finishing fights by submission, is one of the most underrated fighters in the world at 155 pounds. With his only UFC loss coming by decision to top contender Gray Maynard and his only other career loss being a decision against another strong contender in Frankie Edgar, Miller’s record is excellent, largely because of his well-rounded skill set, which features good boxing on top of his well-recognized excellent ground work.
Duane “Bang” Ludwig, Miller’s recently named opponent, came by his nickname honestly. No one in the world at 155 pounds even comes close to having Ludwig’s mix of hand speed, accuracy, technique, and punching power. Offensively, he is one of the most dominant fighters in the world in the striking game. Unfortunately, his defense is not on the same level as his offense is. His chin is notoriously spotty, and he has frequently been knocked out in a fashion just as spectacular as he usually knocks guys out. He also has a terrible ground game, and has clearly never taken cross-training seriously, being content instead to try his luck with punching and flit back and forth between kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts.
If Ludwig can connect with a solid strike, neither Jim Miller nor anyone else is going to be able to take it. Unfortunately for Ludwig, though, he has absolutely no chance of stopping Miller’s takedown attempts, which he will execute at will. On the ground, Ludwig is completely overmatched, and will find himself tapping out in fairly short order.
Fight Prediction: Jim Miller via rear naked choke in round two.
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