Before professional kickboxer D.J. Miller returns to action against Nick Martino in his hometown of Nashville for Valor Fights 38 on Nov. 5 at Nashville Fairgrounds Arena, LIVE on FloCombat, he sat down with Pro MMA Now.
What was your first introduction to martial arts?
It was through my father, who is a third-degree black belt in taekwondo. I did that as a child, but I had a short attention span, so I didn’t take it seriously. When I was 19, I saw a movie about Muay Thai kickboxing, and I wanted to get back into it.
Why kickboxing?
I did a bit of wrestling, but striking is just in my blood more than anything.
How excited are you for this upcoming fight?
I’m very excited. This is my first time fighting in Nashville in quite a few years, and I’m excited. Very excited.
What are your expectations for this fight?
It’s a great fight for me. My opponent isn’t as technically sound as I am. It’s going to be frustrating for him, because I have good footwork and throw a lot of combinations. I expect another win, for sure.
Where would you like to be 12 months from today?
I’d like to be one of the top five kickboxers to come out of North America. I’m really pushing for the awareness of Muay Thai in my state and country. I’m staying on the grind hard, and hopefully I’ll have five more pro fights by then.