Chris Padilla grew up watching Jim Miller; now he wants to fight him

After earning a dominant submission victory at UFC Sacramento, rising lightweight Chris Padilla has publicly called for a fight with UFC veteran Jim Miller.

Padilla (18-6-1) extended his perfect UFC record to 5-0-1 by submitting Nasrat Haqparast with an arm-triangle choke at 4:59 of the third round. Immediately after his win, Padilla told the octagon interviewer that Miller is the opponent he wants next. "I watched him growing up as a little maggot," Padilla said. "I want fights that are going to give me that little tingle." He emphasized his hunger to test himself against experienced competition while establishing himself as part of the next generation.

Miller, 42, who made his UFC debut in 2008, recently submitted Jared Gordon in May to extend his record for most wins in UFC history to 28. The fight marked his 47th promotional appearance, leaving him just three bouts shy of his stated goal of 50 UFC appearances. A matchup between the veteran Miller and the hungry Padilla would pit experience against emerging talent in the lightweight division.