Nate Diaz Announces Himself as Elite Lightweight by Finishing Jim Miller

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- Just when you thought no Nick Diaz in your life meant MMA got a little more boring, here comes brother Nate Diaz to pick up the slack.

Nate is young and fast and talented, and now, we can say he is elite, too. If you had any remaining doubts about that after his throttling of Donald Cerrone last December, you probably don't after he became the first man to finish Jim Miller at Saturday night's UFC on FOX 3.

Think about this: Miller is a man who's stepped into the cage with current lightweight champion Ben Henderson, current No. 1 contender Frankie Edgar, and the last No. 1 contender Gray Maynard. None of them finished him. None of them came close. But Diaz did it, and in a scheduled five-round fight, needed less than two of them to pull it off. That left even Miller in a complimentary mood.

"He fought a beautiful fight," Miller said. "He had my number."

When you get someone as proud as Miller to say something like that, you know it's checkmate. Those aren't words he's easily uttered in the past. He came into the fight with a lifetime .875 winning percentage, and had been a divisional standout in the UFC, at one point winning seven straight fights and knocking on the door of a title shot.

But against Diaz, Miller found little success. The two may have fought a fairly even first round -- two judges scored it for Diaz while one scored it 10-10 -- but he still didn't look comfortable trying to close the distance against Diaz's five-inch reach advantage. In the round, Diaz out-struck him 49-17, according to FightMetric.

But in the second round, Diaz really turned it on. All of the sudden, it was as if he was locked in. He started taunting Miller, talking to him, playing with him, really. And whatever he threw, he landed. At one point, he put his arms down, invited Miller to hit him, and then connected on a front kick. Diaz was simply in the zone, landing 48 strikes to Miller's 10.

"I don't even remember what he was saying," Miller said. "It didn't affect me. It was the strikes he was landing that affected me. I shouldn't have given him the opportunity to be speaking … He took the momentum and held it."

That is the kind of thing a Nick Diaz opponent walks away saying, which makes you wonder if Nate's career is about to follow a similar career trajectory in terms of success. At one point of Nick's career, he was 15-7 with 1 no contest, and then, everything seemed to click, and he rolled off an 11-fight win streak, taking him to the brink of a UFC welterweight title shot, an opportunity he lost through his own no-showing of two press conferences.

Nate was 15-7 heading into last night's fight, and suddenly he was as good as we've ever seen him. Could that same kind of streak be coming? It could. Diaz's biggest problem has always come from wrestlers, and Miller certainly took his chances to get it to the mat. Diaz was simply better than him, shutting down four of five tries. There are certainly better functional MMA wrestlers in the UFC lightweight division than Miller, but Diaz's performance in this aspect can only be seen as a positive.

Another promising quality? The sideshow circus that comes with Nick's behavior seems to be no issue for Nate. UFC president Dana White has repeatedly noted how Nate has been no problem to work with, and does what's asked of him.

Diaz wasn't outwardly celebratory after the fight. Sitting at the post-fight press conference podium, Diaz spent most of his 30 minutes there checking congratulatory text messages on his phone, occasionally looking up when he received a question. Perhaps surprisingly, Diaz said he was willing to wait to get a shot at the lightweight title, something he was promised during fight week if he won.

Since Diaz has entered the UFC, we've seen a lot of him. According to MMADecisions.com, his 16 fights over the last five years is the most of anyone in the UFC during that time, far ahead of a slew of guys with 13. That activity has made him sharp, but it's also the reason he doesn't mind taking a breather while Henderson and Edgar sort out the division.

Grid View

• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz drills Jim Miller in the face during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz walks to the Octagon during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Jim Miller gets ready for his main event fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz punches Jim Miller during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Jim Miller and Nate Diaz battle along the cage during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz hits Jim Miller with a left hand during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Jim Miller gets instructions between rounds during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Jim Miller hits Nate Diaz with his left hand during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz taunts Jim Miller during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz gets ready to submit Jim Miller during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz is congratulated by his coach during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz celebrates after submitting Jim Miller during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz and Jim Miller hug it out after the fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz celebrates his win over Jim Miller during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz talks to Joe Rogan after his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Nate Diaz, center, poses with his team after his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Josh Koscheck makes his way to the Octagon during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Johny Hendricks gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Josh Koscheck gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Johny Hendricks kicks Josh Koscheck during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Josh Koscheck punches Johny Hendricks during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Johny Hendricks and Josh Koscheck exchange punches during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Josh Koscheck gets ready for the final round during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Josh Koscheck punches Johny Hendricks during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Josh Koscheck battles Johny Hendricks during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Josh Koscheck leaves the Octagon after a split-decision loss during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Alan Belcher gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Rousimar Palhares gets checked before his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Alan Belcher battles Rousimar Palhares on the ground during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Alan Belcher battles Rousimar Palhares on the ground during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Alan Belcher battles Rousimar Palhares on the ground during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Alan Belcher knocks Rousimar Palhares out during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Alan Belcher celebrates his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Alan Belcher celebrates his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Rousimar Palhares walks back to the locker room after his loss during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Lavar Johnson makes his way into the Octagon during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Pat Barry gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Pat Barry catches Lavar Johnson with an elbow during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Pat Barry battles Lavar Johnson on the ground during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Pat Barry battles Lavar Johnson on the ground during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Lavar Johnson looks to finish Pat Barry during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Lavar Johnson tries to finish Pat Barry during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Lavar Johnson looks to finish Pat Barry during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Lavar Johnson earns a knockout win over Pat Barry during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Lavar Johnson celebrates his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Lavar Johnson celebrates his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos A fan holds up a "Cinco de K.O." sign during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Michael Johnson gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Michael Johnson punches Tony Ferguson during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Michael Johnson drills Tony Ferguson during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Michael Johnson drills Tony Ferguson in the head during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Tony Ferguson and Michael Johnson battle during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Michael Johnson celebrates his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Tim Elliott gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Dodson jumps up during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Tim Elliott drills John Dodson during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Dodson and Tim Elliott battle on the ground during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Tim Elliott tries to kick John Dodson in the face during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Dodson punches Tim Elliott during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Tim Elliott hits John Dodson during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Dodson celebrates after his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Dodson celebrates his unanimous decision win over Tim Elliott during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Dodson poses with his team after his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Hathaway knees Pascal Krauss in the face during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Hathaway punches Pascal Krauss during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Hathaway and Pascal Krauss exchange shots during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Pascal Krauss hits John Hathaway during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Hathaway celebrates his unanimous decision win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Lineker gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Louis Gaudinot gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Louis Gaudinot hits John Lineker with a spinning backfist during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Louis Gaudinot strikes John Lineker during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Lineker punches Louis Gaudinot during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Lineker punches Louis Gaudinot during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Louis Gaudinot drills John Lineker during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Louis Gaudinot gets John Lineker in a guillotine during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Louis Gaudinot celebrates his submission win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Louis Gaudinot celebrates his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Danny Castillo gets ready for his fight during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos John Cholish and Danny Castillo exchange punches during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Danny Castillo tries to finish John Cholish during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Danny Castillo celebrates his unanimous decision win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Dennis Bermudez slams Pablo Garza during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Dennis Bermudez punches Pablo Garza during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Dennis Bermudez tries to submit Pablo Garza during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Dennis Bermudez celebrates after the final bell during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Dennis Bermudez celebrates his unanimous decision win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Roland Delorme gets ready to get into the Octagon during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Roland Delorme and Nick Denis battle during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Roland Delorme and Nick Denis battle during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Roland Delorme catches Nick Denis in a rear-naked choke during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Roland Delorme celebrates his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Roland Delorme celebrates his win during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Mike Massenzio and Karlos Vemola collide heads during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 3 Photos Karlos Vermola defeated Mike Massenzio with a second-round TKO during UFC on FOX 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. on Saturday, May 5, 2012.

Diaz may always have a problem with wrestlers -- and with either Henderson or Edgar, he's guaranteed one -- but at least at 155, he won't be giving up size and muscle as he was in his brief move to 170. Much like brother Nick, Nate has learned that unwavering striking volume and an attacking ground game make for a dangerous combination, even against a wrestler.

That's the message his win over Miller sent to the rest of the division. Nate Diaz is no longer just Nick's little brother. When it comes to lightweights, he's now elite.