In the build-up to this weekend’s ‘UFC On FOX 3’ headliner between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller it’s been assumed that the winner would then be established as the next No.1 contender in the lightweight division, but according to Dana White that’s not quite the case.
“Should Diaz win, Diaz is definitely getting a title shot,” White confirmed during a recent media gathering.
However, the news isn’t quite so good for his opponent.
““Should Miller win, Miller’s probably going to be a fight or two away,” he stated.
Miller is getting a bit of a raw deal here given that it wasn’t all that long ago that he was on a seven fight winning streak, and is 10-2 overall in the UFC’s lightweight division.
Unfortunately for him his solitary loss in the last three years came to current champion Ben Henderson in August of last year, and given the convincing nature of that loss it does leave him in a slightly awkward position.
For the record, Diaz is currently on a two-fight winning streak at 155lbs and is 8-3 overall in the division during his run in the UFC. There is more buzz around him at the moment though after pulling of a ‘Fight Of The Night’ and ‘Submission Of The Night’ performances, and the hype surrounding his older brother Nick has also helped him gain the neccessary traction to become a legitimate title contender.
Interestingly, White has also claimed that another fighter on the ‘UFC on FOX 3’ card, Johny Hendricks could also be in the running for a title shot – in his case at 170lbs – if he defeats former No.1 contender Josh Koscheck on Saturday night.
“I would definitely agree with that, too,” White confirmed when asked if Hendricks was in a similar situation to Diaz in his respective division.
White may have been getting a little ahead of himself there though as current interim title holder Carlos Condit is currently waiting in line to fight GSP for the ‘real’ belt at the end of the year, while Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann who’ll fight in June are also strong contenders to get first dibs at the winner of that one.
