[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] is one of the most durable competitors in the history of mixed martial arts. If you doubt that, consider that his fight with [autotag]Scott Holtzman[/autotag] on Saturday was his 33rd in the UFC and that he holds the company’s record for lightweight wins at 19.
Holtzman (14-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), however, is starting to demonstrate that he, too, has staying power – and that here in his fifth UFC year, he’s coming into his own.
The lightweight nicknamed “Hot Sauce” scored an impressive win at UFC on ESPN+ 25, figuring out the pace in the opening round and then turning things on over the final two to earn a unanimous decision. The judges’ scores were 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28.
The opening round was primarily a boxing match, and while Holtzman was the one moving forward, Miller (31-14 MMA, 20-13 UFC) landed more often, frequently finding a home with a crisp right hand.
Holtzman, however, seemed to find his range late in the round, and he turned up the pace in the second. Midway through, Miller scored a takedown, but coming out of the scramble after Holtzman got back to his feet, Holtzman really upped the volume and landed to the head and body. After a takedown, Holtzman finished the round with solid ground and pound.
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In the third, New Mexico’s high altitude began taking a toll on both competitors, but more noticeably Miller. Holtzman outstruck Miller over the final two rounds by a combined 55-29, which tells the story on how he managed to seal the deal.
With his seventh career decision victory, Holtzman now has won two straight and five of his past six. Miller, who went past the first round for the first time in his past five fights, had a two-fight winning streak snapped.
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Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 25 results include:
- Scott Holtzman def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Devin Clark def. Dequan Townsend via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
- Merab Dvalishvili def. Casey Kenney via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 29-28)
- Macy Chiasson def. Shanna Young via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
- Raulian Paiva def. Mark De La Rosa via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 4:42
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