Athletes
Ty Miller | Albuquerque’s Latest Export
DWCS Alum Proud To Represent His City, Talks Debut Against Adam Fugitt At UFC 324
Every city and town has those one or two things that they’re known for, regardless of whether that’s just within the region or on a global scale, like how Philadelphia is known for Rocky and cheesesteaks or the way everyone in the St. Lawrence Seaway region knows that Cornwall, Ontario, has a funky smell because of the paper mill.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, is known for being a breeding ground for mixed martial artists, both of the “born and raised” variety and transplants that select the hard-scrabble city flanked by the Sandia Mountains as their home base as they chase their MMA dreams.
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Ty Miller wasn’t born in “Duke City,” but he’s been there since he was five years old, and the recent Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) grad is proud to be the latest to represent his hometown on the biggest stage in the sport.
“It’s cool,” offered the 26-year-old when asked about being the latest from Albuquerque to step into the Octagon ahead of his promotional debut against Adam Fugitt in this weekend’s opening bout at UFC 324. “There’s obviously been fighters like Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez, Tim Means, Jon Jones, and now I’m a part of that as well, so I’m looking to represent our city and put on a good show.”
If you’re anything like me, the mention of “The Natural Born Killer” causes an image of a snarling Condit to flash through your mind, and when it did on Tuesday evening, I couldn’t help but notice the physical similarities between the former WEC and interim UFC welterweight titleholder and Miller.
Both stand six-foot-two with long limbs, and while not as long and spiky as Condit’s signature look, Miller’s hair bears a resemblance as well.
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“We’ve got a lot of the same features, body style,” Miller said with a chuckle when I mentioned the resemblance. “I don’t really like being compared to anyone, but it’s always kind of cool being compared to him; him and Tim.”
When asked how he would describe himself to folks that maybe didn’t see his unanimous decision win over Jimmy Drago on the first week of the Contender Series last season or are simply tuning into a UFC event for the first time courtesy of their Paramount+ subscription, the debutant was quick to respond, saying they would see “an exciting striker and to be on the lookout for a finish.”
Albuquerque? Welterweight? Tall striker always hunting for a finish?
Sounds like both Condit and “The Dirty Bird,” and Miller is very intent on following in their footsteps.
“I want to get a knockout, for sure,” he responded when asked about his ideal outcome for his clash with Fugitt on Saturday night in Las Vegas. “I would love to get a bonus too — feed me and my family — and I would like to fight four or five times this year, stay undefeated.”
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The first step towards making that Year One dream a reality and becoming the answer to the trivia question “Who won the first UFC fight on Paramount+?” is getting through his first foray into the Octagon this weekend, and it’s no easy task.
While Fugitt heads into UFC 324 with a 2-3 record through his first five appearances with the promotion, the veteran from the Pacific Northwest has faced a non-stop diet of DWCS graduates, and the three that have gotten the better of him are no slouches.
“All of his losses that he’s had in the UFC have been against really good guys,” Miller said of his opponent this weekend, who has landed on the wrong side of things against Michael Morales, Mike Malott, and Islam Dulatov. The trio was a combined 33-2-1 at the time of their individual meetings with Fugitt and have added 11 additional victories against only one setback in the time since.
Simply put, Fugitt doesn’t lose to just anyone, and beating him carries weight.
“He’s a long, lanky lefty. He likes to throw a lot of kicks off his back leg, he has some good takedowns, and when he doesn’t get finished, he’s game, and he’s pretty durable,” added Miller. “I think he’s a good opponent, a tough opponent, but I feel I’m better on the feet, have better hands.”
Working steadily to improve on the things he wasn’t happy with from his Contender Series victory and thrilled to have achieved one of his professional dreams by checking in for his first UFC fight week, the excited neophyte has a chance to cross another milestone achievement off his list on Saturday by going out, getting that first win, and listening as Bruce Buffer bellows, “You winner, by (insert method here)… Ty “Thriller” Miller!”
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When asked about it, he couldn’t help but chuckle and smile.
“I’m gonna be feeling happy for sure,” he said about the potential experience. “But we won’t know until we’re in there.
“I can’t wait for it, man.”
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett took place live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 24, 2026. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!