Fighting in mixed martial arts is tough. It gets a lot tougher at the professional level. Getting into the UFC requires a mighty, mighty effort, and staying there is harder.

The record for most fight is currently held by Michael Bisping, Frank Mir, Tito Ortiz, and Jim Miller with 27. On Saturday at UFC Fight Night 119 Miller will break the record, vs. Francisco Trinaldo.

Miller was asked if that carried any special meaning.

It does and it doesn’t, said Miller to Fernanda Prates and John Morgan for MMAjunkie. It’s not what I set out to do. But, right now, I’m tied with a group of gentlemen that I have a lot of respect for and that have really left their mark on the sport and the organization.

So it’s kind of – pulling the lead a little bit. Bisping is going to catch back up. But it is cool. It’s definitely a feather on the cap. And I’ve been able to do it in a pretty fast time compared to those other guys. Bisping was in the UFC a few years before I was.

Miller, 34, and on a two-fight losing streak, still has his eyes on a title shot.

The sport’s all about timing, he explained. You look at just Kevin Lee, getting the opportunity to fight for the interim title. He was ranked No. 7. I was ranked 3 and 4. And I didn’t get my shot. I was 9-1 in the organization, and there was just injury and rematch after – things just didn’t pan out for me at that time.

And I had ups and downs a little bit. It really just comes down to timing. And being able to grasp that golden ring while you have the opportunity. I know that I can compete with any of those guys. It’s just a matter of showing up and being myself.

I’m going to keep doing this as long as I can. And keep going out there and fighting as hard as I can.