UFC Lightweights Nate Diaz and Jim Miller headline tonight's UFC on Fox 3 from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Californian Nate Diaz may or may not be fighting for a title shot, but the local hero Jim Miller can only aspire to a spoiler's role. That's a situation rife with dramatic possibility but I think some of that is lost on the fighters who are pre-occupied with concentrating on the very real physical dangers presented by their opponent.

Fuel TV's Ariel Helwani spoke to Diaz and Miller and the contrast couldn't be more striking. The laconic Diaz could only mutter, "I don't hate everybody," before giving up on his answer to a question long forgotten. Diaz emphasized his hard training and shrugged that the likeable Miller was between him and his goals.

He did perk up when Helwani asked if he liked being the out-of-town fighter going up against the local star. Diaz was clear that he'd rather be at home. He also promised to represent "the 209" aka Stockton, California.

By contrast to Diaz', the focused Miller is all game plan and talk about blitzing Diaz and imposing his game on the lanky Diaz. Miller knows that if he lays back and plays Diaz' game, he'll end up eating a lot of punches. He's looking to grind it out and dominate Diaz in close and on the ground.

Videos after the jump...


SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3