UFC 108 Preview: Jim Miller vs. Duane Ludwig

Jim Miller (15-2, 4-1 UFC) vs. Duane Ludwig (19-9, 2-0 UFC)

The Story So Far: As is the case with almost all of the fights on the main card of UFC 108 this fight went through several iterations before it settled on a final match-up. One thing remained constant though, Jim Miller, while Tyson Girffin and then Sean Sherk withdrew due to injuries Jim Miller stayed true.

Now Miller will have to face off against Duane Ludwig.

Ludwig has bounced around from the UFC to Strikeforce to Sengoku to the ROF all the while fighting some of the best lightweights in the world such as, B.J. Penn, Tyson Griffin, Josh Thomson, Takanori Gomi and even the welterweight Paul Daley. While Ludwig may have lost each of those fights he has still KO'd Jens Pulver, Jonathan Goulet and Yves Edwards.

Ludwig should step in nicely to test Miller who has knocked off TUF season six winner Mac Danzig and TUF season five standout, Matt Wiman.

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Conventional Wisdom: Duane Ludwig returns to the UFC on short notice to fight one of the promotion's rising lightweight prospects. The odds makers have Ludwig as a huge dog  at +360 with Miller pulling odds of -450.

WKR Analysis: Ludwig is a tough Muay Thai fighter who is a strong test for any lightweight. However top fighters can consistently beat Ludwig. If Jim Miller is going to be a serious UFC lightweight he is going to have to beat Duane.

Miller previously struggled with Gray Maynard's wrestling and WKR expects Ludwig to attempt a similar strategy though it will probably be rendered null due to Miller's Jiu-Jistu.

Fun Fact: Jim Miller fights out of Whippany, New Jersey which derives it's name from the Whippanong Native Americans, a tribe that once inhabited the area.