Tag: Juliana Miller

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Juliana Miller[/autotag]’s first move as a Season 30 “Ultimate Fighter” winner was to crotch-chop her opponent, [autotag]Brogan Walker[/autotag], before referee Keith Peterson shoved her away.

The move came after a third-round submission and was the result of a culmination of factors, Miller (3-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) said at a news conference Saturday after UFC on ESPN 40. Sure, she felt disrespected by Walker (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) mean-mugging and trash-talking. But more than that, a love for pro wrestling was the catalyst for Miller’s MMA career – and even runs in her bloodline.

“So the thing is, my grandma, when she moved here from Brazil, she didn’t speak any English,” Miller told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “She was learning English from TV shows. … Pretty much, I was raised by her from 6 months to 5 years old. As she was starting to learn English, she said she loved wrestling because she didn’t need to understand the words to see what was happening. It was all through the action. Honestly, when I came to my team, I was like, ‘I want to be a pro wrestler one day.’ My coaches were like, ‘Let’s give you a shot in the cage and see how you do.’

“I ended up loving it, but that pro wrestling spirit kind of lives within me forever. I just think it’s exciting to put on a show. More than anything, the ‘suck it’ just came from the fact she sat up here on the same table and decided to say that she was going to highlight-reel knock me out cold. It felt good to stand over her and say, ‘Look at you now.'”

With the “TUF 30” tournament victory, Miller earned a multifight UFC deal. Training in the San Diego area, Miller considered asking for a fight at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 41. She decided against it, but will stay ready to make a quick turnaround at a later date.

“Depending on what’s available. I was worried I’d walk out of here damaged, but I’m doing just fine,” Miller said. “I was going to say San Diego, but my coaches will be cornering my teammate Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in her Bellator (284) fight. Really, it just depends on what’s possible. I think for now I want to go eat some cookies, enjoy myself, and hopefully have a few options getting back in the cage. I am uninjured, so really as long as I have a little time to prepare with my incredible team and coaches, I’m hyped and ready to be back at it.”

[listicle id=613662]

[vertical-gallery id=2569115]

[vertical-gallery id=2569126]

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Juliana Miller[/autotag] plans on surprising [autotag]Brogan Walker[/autotag] just like she has everyone else.

With just three professional bouts, Miller (2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was not expected to make it to the Season 30 “Ultimate Fighter” women’s flyweight final. But she finds herself across from the more experienced Walker for a shot at a UFC contract on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 40 main card.

Walker (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) said she aims on mimicking Amanda Nunes’ dominant title-winning performance against Julianna Peña at UFC 277 and put Miller on her highlight reel, but Miller is ready to make her pay for her words.

“As I’m sure you all have heard time and time again, she has so much more experience than me. She’s been fighting forever and said is going to knock me the F out as soon as I step forward,” Miller told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 40 media day. “Almost all of that is true. She is a more experienced fighter. She’s been in here forever. She’s incredibly strong. She’s got a brick-like body – from top to bottom, just absolutely solid. However, she’s not a fan favorite because she’s not entertaining to watch.

“I’m here to bring the entertainment, to bring the fun, to bring a dogfight, to show you guys why you’re fans of this sport. We’re here for war. It’s not just about winning. It’s about your energy and your showmanship throughout the entirety of the process. And to be quite frank, I like teaching people a lesson – so I’m here to humbly give that to Brogan about all the mean things she’s been saying, because I’ve been nothing short of respectful. I do think she’s an incredible fighter and there’s a reason we’re face to face here in the finale, and I’m quite excited to put on that show.”

Miller would love to reciprocate Walker’s prediction and say she will starch her early, but sees Walker avoiding a fight and trying to grapple her way to a decision.

“She talked so much smack about knocking me out,” Miller said. “I would love the alternative where I land and I stand and look over her like, ‘Oh, look where you’re at now’ – just that moment of satisfaction of, ‘Hey, you said you’re going to do this to me, look what I’m going to do to you.’ I’ve also seen the altercation of us on the ground and getting the dominant finish with a TKO. I’ve watched myself submit her. There is endless options.

“However, realistically, on paper, how I believe going to go is this is going to be a three-round fight. Brogan is going to throw one or two punches, circle away, run away. When she feels my power, I think she’s going to try and clinch and hold me on the cage. If she can get a snap down, she’ll do her double overs, stick her tummy right to the dirt and try to hold me there until infinity because this is what she does every single fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 40.

[listicle id=2568350]

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Juliana Miller[/autotag] plans on surprising [autotag]Brogan Walker[/autotag] just like she has everyone else.

With just three professional bouts, Miller (2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was not expected to make it to the Season 30 “Ultimate Fighter” women’s flyweight final. But she finds herself across from the more experienced Walker for a shot at a UFC contract on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 40 main card.

Walker (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) said she aims on mimicking Amanda Nunes’ dominant title-winning performance against Julianna Peña at UFC 277 and put Miller on her highlight reel, but Miller is ready to make her pay for her words.

“As I’m sure you all have heard time and time again, she has so much more experience than me. She’s been fighting forever and said is going to knock me the F out as soon as I step forward,” Miller told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 40 media day. “Almost all of that is true. She is a more experienced fighter. She’s been in here forever. She’s incredibly strong. She’s got a brick-like body – from top to bottom, just absolutely solid. However, she’s not a fan favorite because she’s not entertaining to watch.

“I’m here to bring the entertainment, to bring the fun, to bring a dogfight, to show you guys why you’re fans of this sport. We’re here for war. It’s not just about winning. It’s about your energy and your showmanship throughout the entirety of the process. And to be quite frank, I like teaching people a lesson – so I’m here to humbly give that to Brogan about all the mean things she’s been saying, because I’ve been nothing short of respectful. I do think she’s an incredible fighter and there’s a reason we’re face to face here in the finale, and I’m quite excited to put on that show.”

Miller would love to reciprocate Walker’s prediction and say she will starch her early, but sees Walker avoiding a fight and trying to grapple her way to a decision.

“She talked so much smack about knocking me out,” Miller said. “I would love the alternative where I land and I stand and look over her like, ‘Oh, look where you’re at now’ – just that moment of satisfaction of, ‘Hey, you said you’re going to do this to me, look what I’m going to do to you.’ I’ve also seen the altercation of us on the ground and getting the dominant finish with a TKO. I’ve watched myself submit her. There is endless options.

“However, realistically, on paper, how I believe going to go is this is going to be a three-round fight. Brogan is going to throw one or two punches, circle away, run away. When she feels my power, I think she’s going to try and clinch and hold me on the cage. If she can get a snap down, she’ll do her double overs, stick her tummy right to the dirt and try to hold me there until infinity because this is what she does every single fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 40.

[listicle id=2568350]