TUF 17 Finale results/photos: Cole Miller submits Bart Palaszewski in first

LAS VEGAS – Cole Miller and Bart Palaszewski both had their UFC jobs on the line against each other, and it was Miller who staved off a potential pink slip.

Miller used a takedown to slide around and take Palaszewski’s back in the first round, then sank in a fight-ending rear-naked choke.

The lightweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale event at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. It streamed on Facebook ahead of additional prelims on FUEL TV and a main card on FX.

The two traded punches and kicks early, with Miller using his reach advantage to start to pick Palaszewski apart from the outside. When Palaszewski got inside, he was able to land some good combinations and some inside leg kicks of his own, though. Three minutes in, Palaszewski backed Miller up with a big right hand, then appeared to hurt him moments later and continued to back him up with combinations.

But with 90 seconds left, Miller threw a Superman punch, then shot for a takedown and got the fight to the canvas, where he took Palaszewski’s back and looked for the rear-naked choke – and he eventually got it.

After softening up Palaszewski with a few punches, he turned a neck crank into the rear-naked and forced Palaszewski to tap with just 37 seconds left in the first.

“I think everybody knows that I was on the chopping block tonight,” Miller said. “I wasn’t expecting another shot if I lost this one. I want to thank Dana White, Joe Silva and Sean Shelby for giving me another opportunity to prove what I can do in this sport. To come here tonight with that much pressure after elbow surgery and a long layoff, it just feels amazing to right my ship and get the win.”

Miller (19-7 MMA, 8-5 UFC) snapped a two-fight skid that saw him drop decisions to Nam Phan and Steven Siler. Palaszewski (36-17 MMA, 1-3 UFC) lost his third straight and fourth in five fights.

Up-to-the-minute TUF 17 Finale results include:

• Cole Miller def. Bart Palaszewski via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:23
• Maximo Blanco def. Sam Sicilia via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Daniel Pineda def. Justin Lawrence via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 1:35

For more on The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Las Vegas.