UFC 108: Tyson Griffin vs Jim Miller under consideration for Jan. 2

by Jesse Holland on Oct 16, 2009 5:05 PM EDT

Surging lightweight contender Tyson Griffin (14-2) is in talks to take on the venerable Jim Miller (15-2) at UFC 108 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 2, 2010, MMAmania.com can confirm.

The embattled Griffin finally notched himself a finish inside the Octagon after knocking off Hermes Franca at UFC 103 on Sept. 19 in Dallas. The talented Xtreme Couture product is the winner of a staggering five "Fight of the Night" bonuses but had gone to a decision in seven straight bouts dating back to 2006 and taking heat from fans and media alike in his inability to seal the deal -- despite going 6-2 during that span.

The veteran lightweight seemed to be keeping himself out of serious title consideration for his inability to finish, something likely to be forgotten -- and quickly -- if he can make it two stoppages in a row with a finish over the crafty wrestler.

Miller is fresh off a technical knockout win over Steve Lopez at the same event, during which Lopez and his shoulder decided to part ways early into the second round, effectively halting the bout.

It was the fifth fight for the New Jersey product inside the Octagon and his fourth win. A unanimous decision loss to the streaking Gray Maynard at UFC 96 back on March 7 is the only blip during that span. His other wins include Matt Wiman and David Baron.

UFC 108 is expected to feature a main event between 185-pound division deity Anderson "The Spider" Silva defending his division title against former light heavyweight champion Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort. Another former 205-pound champion, Rashad Evans, will also likely return to action against another Brazilian, Thiago Silva, in the co-featured fight of the night.

To check out the latest UFC 108 fight card and rumors click here.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: jim miller, tyson griffin, ufc 108

Comments

I like both these guys. Tyson by decision. Miller is tough to finish. So is Tyson. Will be a good fight since they both bring it!

by Pamirec on Oct 16, 2009 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

griffin by decision. yawn. I like miller but will take a pass on thunder thighs.

by jj on Oct 16, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Good fight, but I am completely fed up with the UFC’s lightweight division. Just a bunch of wrestlers for the most part. Is there really a difference between Tyson,Maynard, Guida? UFC needs to bring in some new top LW’s like:

thomson
Kawajiri (he would do great in the UFC)
Aoki
El Nino
Gomi
Alvarez
hellboy would be a breth of fresh air stylistically

I want to see:
Florian vs. Hellboy
Huerta vs. Gomi
Diego vs. Alvarez
Kawajir vs. Tyson
Aoki vs. Nate Diaz
Thomson vs. Edgar
Maynard vs. El nino

by john G on Oct 16, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT***

UFC 110:
Demien Maia vs. Dan Miller

by john G on Oct 16, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I gotta say the Miller brothers are really boring and they keep getting top fights. Griffin is taking a major step back here. I don’t care if the Miller’s are good, they are no-names.

by RoBerto on Oct 16, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

NEWS***

Today, Gilbert Yvel was Granted his license to fight in Nevada!

Next stop, the UFC!!!!!!

by john G on Oct 16, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

my bad, I mean UFC 109:

Rumored Card so far:

UFC 109: FEBRUARY 6, 2010
venue: Las Vegas, Nevada

Matt Hughes vs. TBA
Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller
Matt Serra vs. TBA (probably Trigg)

by john G on Oct 16, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

John, Kos has a fight TBA so I presume that will be against Hughes, unless he doesn’t want to take that long of a lay-off.

Maia-Miller is a sick fight but Demian will be too much for Dan on the ground, hopefully it can match Maia-MacDonald as that was a superb fight and good grapplers like Dan bring the best out of Demian.

Fair point about the UFC LW division but some of the guys you named will never fight in the UFC. Gomi is past his prime though would be a good addition, Aoki would be a great addition but I doubt he’ll ever leave Japan, Hellboy and Thomson have struggled with injuries recently and whilst Melendez and Alvarez would be great additions neither look close to signing with the UFC, particularly Eddie who likes the freedom to fight for Bellator and Dream.

Yvel is a great addition to the UFC, he is a great striker and a tough guy who takes some beating. Ultimately the better grapplers like Nog, Cain, Carwin and Lesnar will be too much for him but I’d like to see him in the UFC fighting some good strikers. They should give him the Barry-Hardonk winner for his first fight.

by David W-S on Oct 16, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Nevermind Kos is fighting Mike Pierce at Fight Night 20, looks like Hughes ducked him. Don’t know what the UFC were thinking making this fight to be honest. I hope Kos didn’t take this fight to keep busy as Hughes is fighting the month after so it would have been worth the wait.

As for Hughes if he ducked Kos then he should be cut, it’s pointless paying someone to fight when they avoid the best competition yet expect title fights. Who knows what he expects to achieve fighting has beens or cans.

by David W-S on Oct 16, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice that the Hurricane is making his debut at UFC. He’s actually a BJJ purple belt under John Lewis if you can believe it. Lots of fight announcements coming. Love this matchup, i think if Miller can stay technical and stand with griffin, he might be able to pull off a Frankie Edgar.

John- the difference between those three is subtle but they all dry hump in a different way and you are left with vastly different dirty feelings afterwards.

by NameNotRequired on Oct 17, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah i like miller but this will be a tough fight for him.

by roy on Oct 16, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep, good fight. Money will be on Tyson.

by Kung Foo on Oct 16, 2009 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

Jesus Christ, are they EVER gonna give Tyson some real competition? Millers good ..so was Tibeau and Franca and the rest of em …but its time to move him up. Give him loser of Penn/Diego! ..or perhaps Nate Diaz.

by MMart simmons on Oct 16, 2009 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

Apparently Miller is one the best lws in the UFC! He has 2 losses. Lost to Maynard & Edgar(back in the years outside the ufc) who are 1 step away form titleshot! This guy is tough.
Nate Diaz? Why would you give him Nate Diaz? He is 1-2 in his last 3 fights and needs easier fight. You see, Miller is a tough motherf**ker, but isn’t that known among the fans. Diaz is very well-known. That’s the difference right there.
I hate to see these guys fight each other, coz I like both of them.

by Pamirec on Oct 16, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t agree with the ufc making Griffin fight Miller. Tyson has earned the right to fight better competition (Joe Stevenson, Kenny Florian, Diego, BJ, etc). Nate Diaz is no different than Miller IMO. Griffin would destroy Diaz w/ wrestling.

by LJ on Oct 16, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Love this fight, when two wrestlers are matched up it usually ends up being a stand up war. Think if Griffin wins this he will be top 5 for sure.

Above him right now are Penn, Diego, Kenny, Gray, Edgar. After Penn and Diego square off, one of them drops out, and in the highly unlikely scanerio that Guida beat Kenny he drops as well. right now I have Clay as #6 and Tyson at #7.

by WB on Oct 17, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

thisis looking like a good event I think tyson will take this one looking on going to the event

by elmatador1990 on Oct 16, 2009 5:39 PM EDT reply actions

Frick all this bull crap I wanna see Joe Daddy fight eitha Tyson or Gray,he at least deserves to fight Gray after beating the guy who submitted him on the TUF series.Joe daddy vs edgar would be very marketable tho.

by The Legacy on Oct 16, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

We all know who wins this one. Tyson Griffin by possible boredom…

by The Negation on Oct 16, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

wow, this doesn’t make any sense. Tyson is beating top 10, top 5 guys and then you give him a guy like Miller who probably doesn’t crack the top 15. What does this even do for Griffin? A win and he’s still top 5 right where he is now.

by Anthony on Oct 16, 2009 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

crazy fight but i see tyson winning by decision

by bryant on Oct 16, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions

I dont see miller out wrestling Tyson,but i do see Tyson out striking Miller on the feet.This is gonna be a good 1.I think Tysons gonna dominate to a u.d.

by The Legacy on Oct 16, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Good fight, I’m a fan of the Miller Bros so I hope he can get a big win here but Tyson may be too much for him at this point, as he’s a good wrestler with decent striking and is near impossible to submit. This one has decision written all over it.

by David W-S on Oct 16, 2009 7:15 PM EDT reply actions

good night miller. what the f is wrong with wrestlers it aint like griffen is laying on top of people. his stand up is good also!

by joe daddy on Oct 16, 2009 7:43 PM EDT reply actions

His striking isn’t that good, the only guy Tyson has KO’d recently was an out of shape Hermes. If he had any proper technique or power then Tyson would not have gone to so many decisions. I’m not saying that he’s boring but he’s not the most exciting fighter in the division and all of his fights look the same to me. He’s top 10 put won’t ever make it to the elite level, unless he drops down to 145.

by David W-S on Oct 16, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I think this is his easy win before the title shot. Kinda like when Fitch fought Chris Wilson.

by BoBBy on Oct 16, 2009 10:12 PM EDT reply actions

Good lord, just do Griffin-Maynard already! There are just too many people in the LW contention pic and though thats a good problem, the LW scene is just seriously borderline confusing right now.

by salamagogo on Oct 17, 2009 2:25 AM EDT reply actions

Cheez…. some of you whiners (people putting down Tyson saying he’s boring or not that great of a fighter “he has fight of the night 5 times” should get into the octogon and show us how it’s done) Tysons fights are always good he not a lay and pray fighter, Tyson always brings it!! When you are top 10 level any fighter is capable of upseting any other fighter. Nothing is for sure.

by SHut UP!! on Oct 17, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions