After just four years of training in the art, top UFC middleweight contender Dan Miller (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was today awarded his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
The 28-year-old was awarded the ranking during today's practice session at AMA Fight Club by his instructor, Jamie Cruz, himself a Renzo Gracie black belt.
AMA Fight Club's Mike Constantino today shared news of Miller's promotion with MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com).A competent wrestler after a lifetime of training in the sport, Miller has quickly adapted to the jiu-jitsu game. The middleweight counts seven of his 11 career wins by submission.
Among Miller's notable UFC submission wins are a February 2009 victory over Jake Rosholt by guillotine and a September 2008 win via rear-naked choke over Rob Kimmons.
Miller also made a name for himself in the now-defunct International Fight League by tapping Ryan McGivern with a knee-bar en route to claiming the IFL's middleweight title, as well as in an August 2007 win over Dave Phillips in what proved to be one of the more brutal guillotine-choke finishes in recent memory.
Miller will get an immediate chance to test his black-belt level grappling skills when he meets one of the sport's most respected jiu-jitsu stylists, Demian Maia, on the main card of "UFC 109: Relentless" on Feb. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Miller looks to rebound from a disappointing loss to Chael Sonnen at UFC 98 in May 2009. The New Jersey native had carried a nine-fight winning streak prior to the defeat.
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