I recently spent an afternoon at AMA Fight Club in Whippany NJ. The purpose of my trip was to interview No. 9 ranked UFC lightweight Jim Miller. Our talk covered many topics, but one that really struck me was the story behind his recently acquired chest tattoo. I'm still working on the full feature story, but here's a small taste of what's to come.

Prior to fighting Joe Lauzon, Miller added a tattoo to his collection of skin art. That tattoo, a lion's claw with the phrase "He Who Greets Fire" is carved into Miller's left pec. As our time together inside the training room at AMA Fight Club wound down, I asked Miller about the significance of that tattoo. Miller said that the piece was inspired by the National Geographic documentary entitled "Eternal Enemies."

The special focused on the interaction between lions and hyenas in Botswana. One lion's name, translated into English was "He Who Greets With Fire." Miller was struck by that lion's willingness to always be ready to fight.

The only thing I fear - I don't fear death, I don't fear pain. The only thing I fear is something happening to somebody I care about and not doing everything in my power. So, to me it means when - I'm getting a little fired up thinking about it. When the shit's on, when it's time to go - I have to be ready to go. If my family, my wife, my kids, my brother, my sister, parents, any of my friends, even anybody on the street needs help, I'm doing what I have to do. I don't think that I could live myself if I watched something happen and something bad happened. So, for me, when it's a dangerous situation to greet with fire, to do what I have to do.

The full feature story on Miller will run on Saturday here at Bloody Elbow.