A bizarre beginning gave way to a fantastic, if one-sided, finish as Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares took care of Dan Miller, earning a victory by unanimous decision at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
Just as Palhares lived up to his nickname “Tree Stump”, so too did the fight live up to its billing as an action packed slugfest, though it did not seem like it would at first. Palhares put the hurt on Miller early and often, knocking the American back with a kick to the jaw and coming in hot with a series of blows before dropping Miller hard to the mat.
Miller managed to recover from that barrage, if only for long enough to get his wits about him. “Toquinho” came right back, knocking Miller with a right jab, a knee to the body and then a kick to Miller’s head. That was enough to send Miller tumbling and to give Palhares the perfect opportunity to put the fight to bed.
Which he and Miller both thought he had after Palhares put the hurt on Miller with his fists of fury. Referee Herb Dean appeared to break up the fight, at which point “Toquinho” straddled the Octagon fence, thinking he had scored a knockout.
Dean soon informed him otherwise and the fight was back on. That brief respite gave Miller new life, as he immediately took Palhares down and began wailing on him, hoping to end the bout when he had the chance.
Unfortunately for Miller, he wasn’t able to finish off Palhares right then and there. Palhares went on to dominate the final two rounds of competition earning his sixth UFC win, this time by unanimous decision. Miller, meanwhile, returns to the US with his UFC record even at 5-5.
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