Tonight, the Ultimate Fighting Championship travelled to the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey for UFC on FOX 3: “Diaz vs Miller.” The event was headlined by a pivotal lightweight contender’s bout between Nate Diaz and fellow submission specialist Jim Miller, scheduled for five rounds.
Also on the card, Johny Hendricks looked to take one step closer to the UFC Welterweight Championship when he faced former title challenger Josh Koscheck. Rousimar Palhares took on Alan Belcher and Pat Barry battled Lavar Johnson. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller
Round 1:
The fighters clinched against the cage early on and Miller landed a nice standing elbow. Diaz countered with knees to the body and Miller landed another elbow. Miller fell after throwing a knee and Diaz landed a body kick on the way up. Miller landed a leg kick and a knee and Diaz fired back with quick punches. Miller lunged in with punches and connected with a left, but Diaz’s counters were effective.
Diaz clinched and pressed Miller up against the fence. Miller reversed, but ate knees to the body. Miller landed a knee and Diaz responded with one of his own. Diaz punched to the body and followed with an elbow. Miller punched in close and landed another knee, but Diaz punched free and dropped Miller with a left cross. In a scramble on the ground, Miller took Diaz’s back. Diaz stood and was taken down again. He swept before the bell. 10-9 Diaz.
Round 2:
Miller closed the distance in round two, but Diaz took control and backed him up to the cage. Both fighters landed punches in close and Miller broke away with an elbow over the top. Diaz countered a combination with a knee and the fighters exchanged power punches. A one-two scored for Diaz and he began to taunt. Miller ran in with a flying knee, but it had little effect.
Diaz continued to taunt in the clinch as he peppered Miller with punches. Two knees scored for Diaz and Miller dropped down to a knee. He stood and Diaz landed a third knee. Diaz tried to trip Miller and count now, but he landed some solid punches. Miller attempted a takedown of his own and Diaz locked on a power guillotine choke. Miller nearly escaped, but Diaz adjusted his grip and Miller tapped out.
Winner: Nate Diaz by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:09 of round two. He improves to 16-7-0.
Johny Hendricks vs Josh Koscheck
Round 1:
The fight began with an exchange of kicks and Koscheck narrowly avoided an overhand left from Hendricks. The fighters traded punches and Hendricks was poked in the eye. Action continued on and Koscheck wobbled Hendricks with a flurry, but Hendricks recovered and answered back with punches of his own. An uppercut and a left hook scored for Hendricks and he took Koscheck down. Koscheck stood and Hendricks landed knees to the thigh.
Referee Kevin Mulhall separated the fighters and Hendricks landed a lunging left hand. He followed with a head kick, but Koscheck blocked it and cracked him with two right hooks. Koscheck shrugged off a takedown attempt and flurried with punches, but Hendricks landed a counter combination. Hendricks missed with an uppercut and ate a right hook. A spinning backfist landed for Koscheck and Hendricks closed out the round with two punches. Close opening five minutes. 10-9 Hendricks.
Round 2:
Hendricks backed Koscheck up with an uppercut and a series of left hooks in round two, but Koscheck countered a takedown by transitioning to Hendricks’s back. Hendricks stood and Koscheck landed an elbow. Hendricks took him down against the cage, but Koscheck got back up as Hendricks kneed at his thighs.
The fighters were separated and Hendricks landed a one-two of uppercuts. Koscheck threw a right hook and clinched. Hendricks countered with knees, but Koscheck landed a pair of standing elbows. Hendricks blocked a head kick and landed another uppercut. Punches were exchanged in close and Hendricks landed a looping left. He shot in for a takedown before the bell. 10-9 Hendricks.
Round 3:
Hendricks jabbed and avoided a right hand from Koscheck in the final round. Both fighters flurried with punches in close and Koscheck tried to take Hendricks down. Hendricks stayed on his feet and landed elbows until the fighters were separated. Koscheck pressed forward and landed two right hooks, but ate a pair of left hand counters. A big right hook scored for Koscheck, but Hendricks wobbled him with a series of lefts.
Koscheck punched his way into a clinch against the cage. Hendricks reversed the clinch and the fighters were broken apart again. Hendricks blocked a head kick and landed a left hook and a big knee. Koscheck took him down against the cage and worked from the top in half-guard. He kneed to the body and nearly passed to mount. Koscheck landed punches to the head and body, but he was unable to pass Hendricks’s half-guard. 10-9 Koscheck.
Winner: Johny Hendricks by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 13-1-0.
Alan “The Talent” Belcher vs Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares
Round 1:
Belcher looked to jab early on, but Palhares shot in and took Belcher down. Palhares worked for a leglock, but Belcher countered with a Twister attempt and a banana split. Palhares rolled and gave up his back. He tried for a kneebar and then an Achilles lock. Belcher defended well and landed punches, but Palhares was relentless with his heel hook attempts.
Belcher spun out and got back to Palhares’s butterfly guard. Palhares tried for an armbar and Belcher postured up to escape. He landed punches and elbows from the top. Palhares tried to cover up as Belcher blasted him with more punches and elbows and the fight was finally waved off when Palhares stopped defending himself. Excellent performance from Belcher.
Winner: Alan Belcher by TKO (Punches & Elbows) at 4:18 of round one. He improves to 18-6-0.
Lavar “Big” Johnson vs Pat “HD” Barry
Round 1:
Barry landed a left hook early on and Johnson backed him up to the cage. A big flurry scored for Johnson, but Barry answered back with a right hook and a leg kick. Johnson clinched and landed three knees. He followed with uppercuts and a series of hooks that rocked Barry, but Barry punched back and managed to score a takedown. He moved to mount and then switched to side control.
Barry worked for a far-side keylock and had Johnson in trouble, but Johnson managed to get his arm free. Barry moved to knee-on-belly position and then back to side control. He punched and elbowed from the top, but Johnson scrambled up to his feet. Barry landed a leg kick and two right hooks. Johnson answered with knees and a head kick. He swarmed on Barry with a barrage of punches and a knee. A final flurry put Barry down for good and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Lavar Johnson by TKO (Punches) at 4:38 of round one. He improves to 17-5-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)