Event: UFC 155 Matchup: Jim Miller (-225) vs. Joe Lauzon (+175) – three-round lightweight bout, co-main event Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV Time: 10 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, December 29, 2012 How to watch: Pay-Per-View 
TALE OF THE TAPE: THE FAVORITE Name: Jim Miller MMA Record: 21-4 UFC Record: 10-3 Age: 29 Nationality: American Height: 5-8 Weight: 155 pounds Style: Wrestling, Brazilian Ji-Jitsu Camp: AMA Fight Club Strengths: Wrestling, BJJ, toughness, cardio Weaknesses: Takedown defense Last 5 Fights: L – Nate Diaz (SUB), W – Melvin Guillard (SUB), L – Benson Henderson (UD), W – Kamal Shalorus (TKO), W – Charles Oliveira (SUB) Notable Career Wins: Guillard, Gleison Tibau (UD), Matt Wiman (UD) Notable Career Losses: Diaz, Henderson, Frankie Edgar (UD) Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Push the pace, take the fight into the deep waters, mix up striking and takedowns TALE OF THE TAPE: THE UNDERDOG Name: Joe Lauzon (+175) MMA Record: 22-7 UFC Record: 9-4 Age: 28 Nationality: American Height: 5-10 Weight: 155 pounds Style: BJJ Camp: Lauzon MMA Strengths: BJJ, grappling, toughness, dangerous in first round, underrated KO power Weaknesses: Fades later, submission defense issues, chin is a concern Last 5 Fights: W – Jamie Varner (SUB), L – Anthony Pettis (KO), W – Melvin Guillard (SUB), W – Curt Warburton (SUB), L – George Sotiropoulos (SUB) Notable Career Wins: Varner, Guillard, Jeremy Stephens (SUB), Jens Pulver (KO) Notable Career Losses: Pettis, George Sotiropoulos (SUB), Kenny Florian (TKO), Ivan Menjivar (UD) Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Be crafty, go for submissions, don’t get caught FIGHT BREAKDOWN, PREDICTION, PICK & BET Lightweight contenders Jim Miller and Joe Lauzon collide in the co-main event of UFC 155 in what should absolutely be a fast-paced, action-packed fight between two studs at 155 pounds. Miller is coming off a loss to Nate Diaz via submission in the main event of UFC on FOX 3 back in May, and he took this fight with Lauzon on relatively short notice after an injury to Gray Maynard. It was just last year that Miller was nearing a title shot, but after a 1-2 run in his last three fights, he needs to get back on the horse badly by picking up a win against Lauzon. On paper, he should be the better fighter, but we know that MMA isn’t always about who is the better fighter. Always an underdog, Lauzon is coming off an amazing “Fight of the Year” candidate against Jamie Varner back at UFC on FOX 4, a fight that won him two bonus checks for “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night.” Lauzon is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC in any weight class and always seems to be in the running for a bonus at the end of the night, so don’t expect anything less from him in this fight. With a 2-1 mark in his last three fights, Lauzon needs to beat Miller to prove to everyone that he can take that next step in his career and actually contend for a title. Adam’s Fight Prediction: There is going to be a lot of grappling in this fight, and although Miller should on paper have the wrestling advantage, you can never count Lauzon out of a fight. I see Lauzon and Miller fighting it on the ground, but Miller is very hard to finish. Although Lauzon is as slick as they come, I can’t see Miller getting subbed for a second straight fight. Miller should win, but to be honest, this is not a fight I’m very confident in, so I would not be surprised at all to see Lauzon pull it off. Adam’s Pick: Jim Miller (-225) via unanimous decision (click for latest MMA odds). Adam’s Recommended Play: I can’t play Miller where he’s currently sitting, and if Lauzon goes over +200, which he already has in some spots, I will be taking a stab on him. We’ve seen Lauzon come through as the underdog before, and he very well could do it again at UFC 155.
