Spokane flyweight Juliana Miller to open UFC Houston card on Saturday: ‘I want to prove the haters wrong’

UFC flyweight Juliana Miller (5-3) is tired of being the underdog.

Looking to change the narrative, Miller is set to fight Carli Judice (5-2) in the curtain-raising fight for UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez.

“Seven of every 10 people think that I’m going to get smoked in Round 1, which I think is really disrespectful,” Miller said. “Everybody believes that I have nothing to give in this fight … and that is so far from the truth.”

First, she was underestimated in her UFC debut on the Ultimate Fighter Season 30 where she won the season and was awarded a UFC contract.

Following a two-fight skid, Miller was once again hailed the underdog in her last fight in May against Ivana Petrović (7-3) where she secured a unanimous decision against the Polish flyweight – all while fighting with a partially torn shoulder.

Now, despite her history of comebacks, Miller is once again facing underdog odds sitting at -800 Judice and +550 Miller, according to Draft Kings.

“I don’t care what the odds say, or anybody says, (Miller is) undoubtedly a better fighter than (Judice),” Miller’s head coach Rick Little said. “(The odds are) all dictated by how random fans like to gamble their money, which, you know, that doesn’t really mean much to me.”

Originally, Miller was set to fight Judice last February but pulled out due to injury.

“It’s the only fight I’ve ever had to pull out of,” Miller said, adding that she requested the matchmaker to grant an extension for the fight but it failed to be rescheduled.

“Sometimes people’s timelines don’t match up,” Little said.

Now, Miller gets her chance to prove herself against the flyweight up-and-comer.

“Hands down, this is a striker versus a grappler matchup,” Miller’s strength and conditioning coach Dr. Dylan Lemery said.

Judice prefers to stand and strike, with all of her professional wins coming via knockout – four of which were first-round finishes.

Three of Miller’s professional MMA wins came via submission, not to mention three out of five of her wins in professional grappling were submissions.

“(Judice is) one of the toughest girls in the flyweight division. She’s taken incredible hard shots and still moves forward,” Miller said.

However, this doesn’t phase “Killer” Miller, who has gone head-to-head with tough opponents before.

“(Miller) won the Ultimate Fighter, which I don’t believe (Judice) would have done,” Little said.

“This is a big fight with a young girl who’s up-and-coming, but in my opinion still has a lot to learn. … I feel like Juliana is starting to turn more veteran and understand the game more.”

The 5-foot-7 flyweights are both coming off a win. Miller is at a physical disadvantage on paper with a 66-inch reach to Judice’s 68-inch reach, and a 37-inch leg reach to Judice’s 38-inch leg reach.

The physical disadvantage doesn’t bother Miller.

“I can split her open with strikes, or I can choke” her out, Miller said. “I really, really want to finish this fight.”

According to Lemery, Miller’s gas tank is primed and ready to “drag (Judice) into really deep waters.”

For Little, the aspect that will be most difficult to overcome is Judice’s fight IQ.

“I think (Judice) has a very outstanding fight IQ, and I think that’s why she stands out. … (Miller) is a very emotional fighter, so that can affect her IQ very positively or negatively,” Little said.

“I think this fight, (Miller) knows what she’s dealing with. She’s not dealing with a superior fighter by any means,” Little said. “(Miller) is undoubtedly a better fighter than (Judice).”

For the San Diego native, this fight goes beyond a personal grievance of the odds.

“I am fighting for everyone who’s been told they’re not good enough. I’m fighting for everyone who’s been told they can never do it, that they can’t make it, that they’re too small, that they’re just overlooked,” Miller said. “Just because everyone says you can’t do it, and no one thinks you can succeed, doesn’t mean it’s true. I want to prove the haters wrong.”

Miller opens UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs Hernandez at 5 p.m. in the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, with the fights streaming live on Paramount+