Jim Miller prefers to keep things simple and straightforward when it comes to fighting.The scrappy UFC lightweight staple presents an all-business approach inside the UFC Octagon, and that portrayal is extremely accurate. There is nothing taken lightly when it comes to Miller and trading leather, and his willingness to throw down with anyone and everyone in the crowded 155-pound ranks is what has endeared him to fight fans throughout his 24-fight run inside the eight-walled cage.And while the MMA community has witnessed the emergence of a different side of Miller's personality over the past year, the New Jersey native is adamant the lighter side fades when he makes that walk."Love me or hate me, I'm going to be who I am," Miller said. "Usually in a public setting I'm quiet and reserved, because I'm the type who will listen a lot more than I talk. I believe there is a lot of character value in that. At the same time, I also have no problem making an ass out of myself when I'm with my friends."I've been a motivational dancer at a wedding, and my karaoke skills have been rumored to be world-renown, but those things happen in a different setting. When it comes to fighting, I am absolutely serious."But has the thought of lightening up the fighting side of things ever crossed Miller's mind? Absolutely."There is a side of me where I've always wanted to do the Genki Sudo-style walkout with dancers and the works, but there's something that happens when I'm about to go into a fistfight where I'm not sure I could do that," he added. "I've always wanted to, but I believe that ship has sailed. I've always wanted to do something like the jetpack walkout or the baseball player. Those were awesome."[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKBSJIGjB5R/?taken-by=jimmiller_155" hide_caption="0"]On the flip side, Miller has also found added value to the various avenues of social media. Where the outdoorsman once viewed Twitter and the like as counterproductive ventures he held no care to be involved in, recent business endeavors brought Miller to a place where he changed his approach.Two major reasons for this are a reality show he's been filming with his brother, Dan, and a podcast they are fixing to take public."It's really a funny thing, because I never much cared for social media or anything to do with it," Miller said. "I just wanted to fight and let that be my representation. But over the last few years, I've noticed a few things, and Dan and I are really working on building out our social media presence."It was just one of those things where I never really cared what other people were doing because I had enough stuff going on in my own life, so getting on Twitter wasn't on the radar. Once I got on Instagram, I started to see it could be fun to play around a little bit."The learning curve once jumping in, he admits, was steeper than expected."We are working on a TV show, an outdoors show, right now, and it's been a slow process," Miller laughed. "Getting into this, I wasn't all too versed in how things work in that world, and let's just say I've learned things develop in that world at a different pace. Things happen out of the gates quickly where our show is concerned, but then mergers and other situations on the television side slowed things down."The one good thing to come out of the lull in activity has been Dan and I having time to put this podcast together. It's my brother and I with our friend Pat and we'll be talking about fighting all of the other things we are interested in. We'll have some guests come through, but the shows will largely be focused on hunting, fishing, beer-making and meats...wonderful smoked meats."Aug 27, 2016; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Jim Miller (blue gloves) fights Joe Lauzon (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY SportsEven though Miller has taken a liking to platforms like Instagram and Twitter, don't expect the seasoned veteran to be taking out any frustrations on fellow fighters over the internet."You will never ever in your lifetime or mine see me get into a spat with another fighter on social media," Miller said. "The fact people get into Twitter beefs is something I believe is very unbecoming for a prizefighter. I think it's just foolish to be sitting there plucking away with your thumbs at 140 characters or less going at it with somebody. I'll never do that."Another thing Miller believed he may never do again was compete on an active fight cycle. After contracting Lyme disease back in 2013, Miller's physical condition took a massive impact and his performances inside the Octagon followed suit.Since arriving to the UFC back in 2008, Miller has been one of the most active fighters on the promotion's roster, but he was forced into taking a different approach recently due to his illness. Nevertheless, Miller's health took a turn for the better at the start of 2016, and he'll notch his fourth bout of the year against Thiago Alves at UFC 205 on Nov. 12."There was certainly nothing easy about what I went through," Miller said. "It was hard to just do my normal every day sh** to be honest. Now I feel like I did just a few years ago, and being able to stay in the gym is nice. Being able to keep active and roll from one training camp to the next is a feeling I didn't know I'd miss but can damn sure promise I'm happy to have back."I have a lot of things going on now with family, business and other projects that demand my time outside of fighting, but my desire and drive to do those things was never in question. I just couldn't physically do them because I had no energy. Getting out of bed some mornings was a huge battle, and I'm extremely happy to have all of that behind me. It feels good to feel good again."Jul 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Jim Miller (red gloves) punches Takanori Gomi (blue gloves) during UFC 200 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY SportsAfter his win over Joe Lauzon at UFC on Fox 21 back in August, Miller wasn't quite sure how things would shape up in regard to his next fight. All of the fighters in his tier were either booked or on the shelf for lengthy stints, but he decided to put his reinvigorated drive to good use and stay in the gym.Sure enough, his choice to do so worked out when Al Iaquinta withdrew from his bout with Thiago Alves due to issues over his contract. The UFC made contact looking for Miller step up, and just as he's done countless times over the past nine years, the 33-year-old lightweight agreed."The attitude I've had for everything over the past few years is to just say yes to everything I'm presented and fighting is definitely one of them," Miller said. "I was a little banged up coming out of the fight with Joe [Lauzon] but all too banged up, and when the offer came from Joe Silva a few weeks out from the date it was something I jumped on."Al [Iaquinta] didn't want to take the fight, and I'm happy he's in the situation where he has something outside of fighting that will allow him to do that. I don't have that. I'm a fighter and that's how I provide for my family. I have a business but it doesn't provide enough income to pay for everything I have to cover."I pay my bills through fighting. I'm not afforded the luxury of being able to play the contractual games at the moment. Staying active is how I make money and I'm happy to be able to be in the position to do so."