Cerrone felled Miller with a precise second-round head kick in the UFC Fight Night “Cerrone vs. Miller” headliner on Wednesday at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. The savage blow cut down Miller (24-5, 13-4 UFC) 3:31 into round two. He had never before been knocked out.
The “Cowboy” set up the finish by tirelessly working over Miller’s midsection. A front kick to the gut nearly sat down the New Jersey native early in the second round, though referee Dan Miragliotta, thinking it had landed low, paused the action and afforded Miller a brief respite. Upon the restart, Cerrone delivered another kick just above the belt that had his desperate counterpart backpedaling and holding his hands dangerously low. The Jackson-Wink MMA standout then targeted the head, a sickening thud of shin meeting skull marking the end of the line for Miller.
Barboza (14-2, 8-2 UFC) took his time and let his skills do the work, the 28-year-old muay Thai stylist utilizing his blend of speed and technique to lure in Dunham. Once in range, Barboza unleashed a grazing kick to the solar plexus that doubled over the Oregonian and left him unable to defend the subsequent attack.
Story (17-8, 10-6 UFC) secured three first-round takedowns and grinded on the Brazilian with elbows and punches from top position. More of the same followed in round two. There, Story delivered another takedown and briefly achieved full mount before securing the choke, locking down his first submission in nearly five years.
Salas (12-6, 3-3 UFC) enjoyed some success with overhand rights, one of which raised a grotesque swelling near his counterpart’s left ear. Proctor pressed on despite the alarming hematoma and clipped the Grudge Training Center representative with left hook on the chin. Salas staggered but recovered, only to be met with another counter left that took out his legs. Proctor swarmed with unanswered punches and hammerfists, resulting in the stoppage.
Lineker (24-7, 5-2 UFC) confronted the Long Island, N.Y.-based Turk with relentless pressure and vicious power punching. Ozkilic countered well, especially in the early rounds, but his pace slowed as the Brazilian’s trademark body blows continued to find their mark. By round three, he had become little more than a sitting duck. Lineker teed off to the body and head, working over his counterpart with volume and intensity. In the closing seconds, “Hands of Stone” backed up a right hook to the ribcage with a pair of left hooks that leveled Ozkilic. Lineker pounced for the finish, forcing referee Keith Peterson to intervene.
Martins (15-1, 3-1 UFC) -- who joined Diego Sanchez, Kenny Florian and George Roop as the only fighters to post victories in three different weight classes in the UFC -- countered effectively throughout, particularly with his left hand. White shifted the momentum with a strong second round, taking advantage as the Brazlian’s pace slowed. All his good work was erased two minutes into round three. Martins clocked him with a right hand to the jaw, followed him to the canvas and polished off his third straight victory with a series of unanswered hammerfists.
view original article >>