Jim Miller vs Alexander Hernandez kicks off the main card at UFC Vegas 69. This is also the solitary lightweight bout on the main card. The event, headlined by Jessica Andrade and Erin Blanchfield, will air out of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 18.
Alexander Hernandez, an American mixed martial artist, holds a professional record of 13-6. He made his UFC debut at UFC 222: Cyborg vs Kunitskaya against the current #4 lightweight, Beneil Dariush. He finished Dariush inside a minute of the first round, becoming the last fighter to have beaten the Iranian lightweight.
However, since then he’s had an up-and-down UFC career, losing 5 and winning as many. “The Great Ape” is currently on a 2-fight skid, losing to Renato Moicano and Billy Quarantillo.
Hernandez’s opponent, Jim Miller embodies what it is to be a UFC veteran. He has been fighting in the promotion since 2008, racking up a UFC record of 24 wins and 15 losses. Miller has beaten some bonafide icons of the sport like Clay Guida and Glieson Tibau.
His most impressive feat is beating former lightweight champ, Charles Oliveira, twice. Even his losses have come against only the best UFC lightweights such as Anthony Pettis and Dustin Poirier.
Miller vs Hernandez: head-to-head stats
Stats | Jim Miller | Alexander Hernandez |
---|---|---|
Wins | 35 | 13 |
Losses | 16 | 6 |
Height | 1.73 m | 1.75 m |
Division | Lightweight | Lightweight |
Reach | 180 cm | 183 cm |
Age | 39 | 30 |
Jim Miller vs Alexander Hernandez: Fight breakdown and prediction
Jim Miller, at 39, has been a top UFC lightweight for over a decade. Quite an impressive feat but this also entails fighting and being damaged by some of the world’s best mixed martial artists. Nevertheless, he is still quite dangerous and Alex Hernandez better not underestimate him in their fight at UFC Vegas 69.
Miller has an excellent ground game, with 19 of his 35 wins coming via submission. And 13 of these came in the first round. The wily veteran also has the ability to wear down his opponent and then catch them with a quick submission. In his career, Miller averages around 1.78 submissions every 15 minutes.
"I’m going to come in there, fight bell to bell and leave it all in there."@JimMiller_155 is bringing the old man strength into his 41st UFC appearance at #UFCVegas69 ⤵️:https://t.co/YkD6JDZIPi
— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 16, 2023
Despite Miller’s strong standup game, the edge in this area of the fight still goes to Alexander Hernandez. He lands around 4 significant strikes every minute on average compared to Miller’s 2.79. However, neither fighter has the best striking defense, absorbing more significant strikes than they land. Even so, Miller still absorbs half as many strikes as Hernandez.
Jim Miller is on a 3-fight win streak, unlike Hernandez who lost his last bout. This places the momentum in Miller’s favor. The only seeming way for Hernandez to win would be to use the explosiveness granted by his relative youth and catch Miller with a clean shot. However, “A-10” has only been Knocked out once in his career.
"I really want redemption."
— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 15, 2023
Alexander Hernandez (@TheGreat155) was ecstatic to take a short notice bout against Jim Miller at #UFCVegas69 🔊🆙
Ultimately, despite the odds and age favoring Alex Hernandez, Jim Miller is still quite the tough challenge that Hernandez probably won’t be able to get through. And the fact that he took this fight on short notice probably won’t make matters better.
Prediction: Jim Miller wins via submission.