Jim Miller wants spot in UFC title picture

Jim Miller knows the upper echelon of the UFC's lightweight division well.

Miller, a 28-year-old New Jersey native, suffered just three losses in his career, and each loss came to a fighter who dominated the title picture over the last two years. Frankie Edgar, who defeated Miller in 2006, held the lightweight title for nearly two years before he lost it to Benson Henderson -- who defeated Miller last year -- in February. Miller's other loss came in 2009 to Gray Maynard, who fought Edgar for the title twice in 2011.

With Edgar and Henderson slated for a rematch later this year, Miller can put himself back in the title picture Saturday night when he faces rising lightweight Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC on Fox 3. The card, which will be held at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., can be seen live on Fox at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT.

"I'm just focused on our fight and whatever happens after that is of no concern to me right now," Miller said of a potential title opportunity. "But if I could win impressively then, really, who else are they going to put in there? ... I'm not even focused on it. ... I'm just focused on fighting Nate and getting a win."

Diaz, 15-7, won his last two fights over Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone after he dropped back down from welterweight to lightweight.

"Nate has great experience," said Miller, 21-3. "He's fought a lot of tough guys. He fought Maynard as well, and it was a closer fight than mine was with Gray. It's going to be a tough fight for either one of us, and it's going to take the best of everything that I have to beat him."

Welterweights Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks, middleweights Rousimar Palhares and Alan Belcher and heavyweights Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson complete the televised card.