The battle for the Hudson River at UFC 328 belongs to New Jersey — to the elation of a partisan crowd and the fighter’s teenage son contemporary off a profitable battle in opposition to most cancers.
Jim Miller, of Sparta, N.J., picked up a victory by guillotine choke submission at 3:29 of the primary spherical over Astoria, Queens native Jared Gordon on Saturday night time at Prudential Middle in the course of the prelims in a uncommon conflict of merchandise from the neighboring states.
Miller (39-19, 29 finishes), throughout postfight remarks within the octagon along with his spouse and 4 youngsters in attendance, paid tribute to 14-year-old son Wyatt after the teenager recovered from rhabdomyosarcoma — a uncommon most cancers of the delicate tissue — the household found final summer season.
“My son went via some actually tough instances within the final couple of months. He ended up kicking the s–t out of most cancers, and he’s all good right this moment. We’re most cancers free. And one of many issues I instructed him when he was coping with it when he first acquired identified is Millers have been referred to as a variety of names over time, however fragile has by no means been one among them.”
The 2 veteran lightweights contested the combat largely on the toes in the course of the temporary bout — which had been interrupted by an incidental low blow absorbed by Gordon from which the New Yorker took a number of minutes to get well.
The tip performed out quickly, with Gordon taking pictures for what amounted to an ill-advised takedown.
Miller, by no means one to cross up a submission try, shortly wrapped up Gordon’s neck in a guillotine choke — a transfer that led to the end on 5 earlier events as a professional.
Make that six now, as Gordon was rolled over from the highest place and his tapout produced an eruption from the audibly pro-Jersey crowd in Newark.
Undoubtedly, the Miller clan was among the many loudest of them.
“He fought his method via it,” Miller mentioned of his perseverant teen. “Nothing that I’ve ever executed in right here is as proud as he makes me and his siblings.”
The 42-year-old Miller, who had not competed since final April’s loss through unanimous resolution to Chase Hooper, prolonged his UFC-record bout complete to 47 since debuting with the promotion in 2008.
He additionally prolonged his file for wins within the UFC to twenty-eight.
Miller instructed The Publish within the lead-up to UFC 300 in 2024 — after beforehand competing at each UFC 100 and 200, changing into the one fighter to take action — that fifty UFC fights was his goal earlier than hanging up his gloves.
Gordon (21-9, 10 finishes), 37, had alternated wins and losses over his final 4 coming into the weekend, having most lately misplaced to Rafa Garcia final September through third-round TKO.
This marks the primary time the New Yorker has misplaced consecutive fights since 2018.
The final time a New Yorker squared off in opposition to a New Jerseyan on a big-time numbered UFC occasion got here at UFC 217 on Nov. 4, 2017, when Randy Brown of Queens picked up a win through unanimous resolution over Inexperienced Brook, N.J., product Mickey Gall in a welterweight bout.
