Editor's note: The article has been updated at 6:30 p.m. ET to reflect the reason for Klein's withdrawal.
Ultimate Fighting Championship vet Jim Miller has a new opponent just a few weeks before his fight.
The Underground broke the story on Friday that Jim Miller (35-17, 1 NC) would no longer be taking on Ludovit Klein at UFC on ESPN 46. Instead, the grizzled lightweight will be facing off against Jared Gordon (19-6, 1 NC) on about two weeks’ notice. According to MMA Junkie, Klein is out of the matchup due to illness. Gordon has since confirmed this June 3 UFC Apex-located pairing on Instagram.
It will have been a bit over a month removed from Gordon’s last appearance, which ended in the first round when he and Bobby Green clashed heads to force a no contest. Instead of booking the immediate rematch, Green took a fight in July against Tony Ferguson. “Flash” is aiming to get back in the win column after a two-bout winless stretch that includes the Green no contest and a contentious decision loss to Paddy Pimblett many considered the 2022 “Robbery of the Year.” Gordon’s last six wins dating back to 2017 have all come on the scorecards, with his only finish in the Octagon coming in his debut against Michel Quinones at UFC Fight Night 112.
Miller will be looking to bounced back from his first loss in a few years, as he fell short to Alexander Hernandez in February by decision. That defeat halted a three-fight win streak for the 39-year-old New Jersey native, who had rattled off three stoppages over Erick Gonzalez, Nikolas Motta and Donald Cerrone in the span of under nine months. Miller plans on continuing to compete until UFC 300, an event that is not currently on the books but is expected to take place around May or June of 2024. “A-10” currently leads the promotion in fights (41) and wins (24), although the latter tally could be tied by Andrei Arlovski should Miller prove unsuccessful while Arlovski prevails that same night.
UFC on ESPN 46 will be held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on June 3, with a 125-pound barnburner headliner between Kai Kara France and Amir Albazi scheduled atop the billing. The co-main attraction will see featherweight staple Alex Caceres battle it out with Daniel Pineda. Additional main card matches besides Miller-Gordon include a flyweight scrap pitting Tim Elliott against Victor Altamirano, a women’s flyweight contest as Karine Silva faces Ketlen Souza and a lightweight banger between Jamie Mullarkey and Guram Kutateladze.
More must-reads: