Cole Miller

Max Holloway vs. Cole Miller

Round 1
Holloway strikes first with a pair of kicks to the outside of Miller’s lead leg. Miller checks a third and gives the Hawaiian a low kick in return. The featherweights continue trading kicks through the first 80 seconds, Miller mixing in a few to the body. Holloway threatens and probes with punches, looking for an opening against the taller man. The fighters clash kicks, knocking Holloway to the ground, but he pops back up without incident. Holloway slaps Miller’s breadbasket with a loud kick, then tacks on a leg kick, answered in kind by Miller. A straight right lands for Miller before the 145ers clinch up. Holloway takes the driver’s seat in the clinch, shoving Miller to the fence and throwing knees to the body. They fight back to the center, where Miller looks to clinch and eats a hook. He decks Holloway with an elbow as he’s pushed against the cage, and now Miller drops to guard at the base of the fence. Miller sits up and drops back on a heel hook, then gives it up to stand, reach between his legs and rolls through on a kneebar attempt to end the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 2
Miller pushes Holloway backward with front and low kicks, keeping the smaller man out of striking range. Holloway answers with a spinning-back kick to the midsection, takes another slap to the lead leg and circles out to reset. Holloway is touching Miller’s chin with reaching punches but the strikes don’t appear to have a lot behind them. Miller continues his leg-kicking before shooting for a double-leg two minutes into the round. When it looks like Holloway will defend, Miller pulls guard and Holloway bails. Back up comes Miller halfway through the round and the fight, and Holloway catches him with a spinning-back fist. Holloway rushes into the pocket, swinging hands, but his head slams into the outside of Miller’s left eye. Miller drops to a knee, bleeding from the spot of the accidental clash of heads, and referee Adam Martinez pauses the fight. The bleeding subsides after a minute and Miller indicates that he’s ready to go. Holloway checks an inside leg kick and puts a kick on Miller’s body. A slapping body kick lands on Holloway’s left side courtesy of Miller, who backpedals around the outside while Holloway works from the center. Holloway closes the distance and shoves Miller against the fence with underhooks. Miller shakes him off with 30 seconds on the clock, but Holloway is soon back in his face with a leaping knee and another clinch to close the round. Miller’s eye is bleeding again at the end of the round, and the fighter tells referee Martinez that Holloway headbutted him again at the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway

Round 3
Miller swings punches upstairs but is having less success at the start of round three, as Holloway is changing levels while striking and throwing body shots. A spinning-back fist clips Miller near the fence before Holloway denies a clinch and throws the taller fighter to the ground. Holloway tags Miller with a combination before the featherweights tie up away from the fence and trade knees to the body. An overhand right gets Miller turning to his right side, where Holloway is waiting with a follow-up left hook. Holloway goes body-head with a combo and narrowly misses with another spinning shot. Holloway ducks under a left hand from Miller and cracks him with a straight counter than sends “Magrinho” moving backward to the fence. With 90 seconds left, Holloway backs off and draws Miller forward, cracking the American Top Team fighter with a pair of hooks to the damaged eye. Miller tries a double-leg on the fence, can’t get it and pulls guard instead. Holloway stands and invites Miller to do the same with less than one minute remaining. Holloway is going wild before the bell, launching a variety of flashy spinning kicks at Miller, though none appear to land cleanly.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway (30-27 Holloway)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Holloway (30-27 Holloway)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Holloway (30-27 Holloway)

The Official Result
Max Holloway def. Cole Miller via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00