10 great fighters who never got a UFC title shot

#5 Jim Miller

Jim Miller is one of the longest tenured UFC fighters, but he's never had a shot at gold

One of the longest tenured UFC fighters in the company’s history with 28 fights and a 29th booked for April, Jim Miller is now on the downswing of his career and retirement is likely looming for the New Jersey favourite. But back in late 2011, he was inches away from a title shot, with only some bad luck keeping him from it.

Miller had reeled off 7 straight wins after a 2009 loss to Gray Maynard, and usually, that would’ve been enough to secure him a Lightweight title shot. But unfortunately for Miller, champion Frankie Edgar had gone to a draw with Maynard at the start of the year and had then withdrawn from a planned May rematch due to injury.

The fight was re-booked for October’s UFC 136, but that left Miller in need of a fight, and so he took on former WEC champ Benson Henderson – and lost a close decision, snapping his win streak. A victory over Melvin Guillard got him back on track, but then a loss to Nate Diaz in a title eliminator knocked him right back off.

Despite winning 7 fights since, Miller has never been able to regain the form he showed in 2011 and subsequently has never gotten close to a title shot again. Had it not been for the draw between Edgar and Maynard though, who knows what could’ve happened?