NEWARK, N.J. – Something really strange happened to Jim Miller in 2025: He fought only one time.
At 42, nearly 60 fights into his MMA career, and a record 45 fights in the UFC, the last time Miller fought just one time in a calendar year was 2005. And that one hardly counts – it was his pro debut, and it happened in late November.
So without question, the lightweight, legendary for his durability, gets a pass for his 2025, which saw him make just one walk for a decision loss to Chase Hooper at UFC 314 in Miami. Miller had won three of four fights prior to that, all by stoppage, and two for bonuses.
Saturday, Miller (38-19 MMA, 27-18 UFC) returns for his first fight in 13 months. Before this, his longest layoff was around nine months. He’ll take on Jared Gordon (21-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) on the prelims at UFC 328 (Paramount+) at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. – which makes it a home fight of sorts for Miller.
But regardless of where it’s at, he’s been pining to get back to work. A surgery to deal with a nagging injury helped inform the layoff decision – but so, too, did a trying time at home with his 14-year-old son’s health.
“This is the longest layoff in my career,” Miller told MMA Junkie. “… I’m just happy to be back, and it’s a great card to be on. … It took a few months for me to get over that and to be able to get back into training. And then, dealt with some health issues in the family and fortunately everything’s great now. My son lived up to the Miller name.”
Miller’s son was diagnosed with a rare cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma, in his eye socket and sinuses that required surgery and chemotherapy.
“It put everything in perspective,” Miller said. “You complain about injuries or this or that. Spending time in the pediatric oncology department – it puts you in your place. These kids are tough as hell. My son is amazing. He made it look easy and did so in the most amazing way and tried to uplift people every time he was there. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Miller said the immediate worst of his son’s health issues – though it’s clearly something that now will be forever in the back of the Miller family’s collective minds – were passed by the time he was able to get back going after his own surgery.
Theoretically, then, his layoff didn’t need to extend to a personal best – or worst? – 13 months. But the appeal of being a native New Jerseyan fighting at home was too much to pass up on, particularly now that he’s nearing the end of his career.
Or is he? Miller has recently said he’d like to reach 50 fights in the UFC, and it’d be hard to doubt MMA’s resident ironman could do it.
“I definitely wanted to fight here once more before I’m done, and if this was my opportunity, I was going to wait it out and fight on this card,” Miller said. “(Getting to) 50 is still the goal, but I’m realistic, as well. I fully understand that at 42, with the miles I have on my body, a blown-out knee, a blown-out shoulder, some of these things, I’m not coming back in a time frame that makes sense to continue. This will be 47. I would have been probably gearing up for 49 had I not had such a crummy year. But I still feel like I can get to 50, and I’m still going to give it a go. If it happens, that’ll be amazing. If it doesn’t because an injury pops up or something like that, then hey, man – it’s been a heck of a ride.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: After career-long layoff, Jim Miller still seeks 50 after UFC 328
