Jim Miller is one of the toughest old timers still competing in the UFC, and he’s got a tough task ahead of him in Jarod “Flash” Gordon in a featured lightweight attraction on tonight’s UFC Fight Night from The Apex in Las Vegas.
Miller is entering his 15th year as a pro and hopes to stand his ground in the division, while Gordon needs a win to soothe the burn of two debilitating setbacks. UFC odds have Gordon as a -180 favorite with Miller returning as a +155 underdog.
Here are our picks and predictions for Miller vs. Gordon at Saturday's UFC Fight Night.
Jim Miller vs Jarod Gordon fight odds
Jim Miller vs Jarod Gordon method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Jim Miller | Jarod Gordon |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +550 | +330 |
| To win by Points | +500 | +120 |
| To win by Submission | +500 | +1,200 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on June 1, 2023.
Jim Miller vs Jarod Gordon picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Jim Miller vs Jarod Gordon betting preview
Jarod Gordon was saved by incompetent officiating when a first-round KO loss to Bobby Green was reversed to a no-contest. Regardless of the outcome, Gordon was getting blasted out in a bad matchup and wasn’t going to survive. That was more than a month ago, and now, he’s rushed back into the octagon against Miller.
Granted, Miller is a far easier assignment than Green ever would be. Gordon matches up extremely well against the aging Miller. He’s faster on his feet, busier with his hands, and isn’t up against a sharp striker who can target his shaky chin.
If Gordon can get off to a fast start, set a steady pace with his striking, and avoid Miller’s takedown attempts, he’s got a great chance of winning the fight. Because Miller isn’t going to have the unique striking abilities Green had, Gordon won’t have anything unexpected to prepare for. Should Gordon escape the first round without getting hurt too badly, he has a great chance of winning the fight.
Jim Miller is still putting together strong performances at 39, though it seems the wears of a long career are beginning to show. He’s 3-2 in his last five fights and all seven of his wins dating back to 2018 have been finishes. In his last fight, Miller fell short in a war against Alexander Hernandez.
The 53-fight veteran is hard to stop, and he’s able to give anyone hell for three rounds. That being said, Miller is having trouble defending against busy strikers as evident in the losses to Hernandez and Scott Holtzman, and Gordon is a sharper striker than they are.
Though Miller has enough in the tank to fight at a steady pace, he needs to prepare for Gordon’s busy striking. He’s not likely to be first, so he’ll need to rely on counters and clinches to slow him down and see how well he’s recovered from his last fight. If anyone is getting a finish here, it’s Miller
Jim Miller vs Jarod Gordon tale of the tape
| Jim Miller | Jarod Gordon | |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Age | 34 |
| 5-foot-8 | Height | 5-foot-9 |
| 155 lbs | Weight | 155 lbs |
| 71 inches | Reach | 68 inches |
| 35-17 (6 KO) | Record | 19-6 (6 KO) |
Jim Miller vs Jarod Gordon UFC prediction and best bet
Fight prediction: Gordon ML
Though the quick return from the Green fight is concerning, it doesn’t help that Gordon is a terrible matchup for Miller. Miller looked his age in his last defeat and looks more hittable in each passing fight. While Miller could be dangerous in the first round, Gordon should bypass the danger and outwork him to win.
Prediction: Gordon moneyline (-180 at DraftKings)
Fight best bet: Gordon by decision
Gordon hasn’t stopped anyone inside the distance since making his promotional debut with the UFC in 2017. He’ll be the busier striker and take advantage of Miller’s depreciating defense, avoiding submission attempts in the first round while remembering to keep his hands up.
My pick of the night is Gordon getting it done on the cards.
Pick: Gordon to win by decision (+120 at DraftKings)
