Round 2: Miller rushes across the cage to start the round, and Guthrie greets her with a front kick and a right hand. She continues pressing forward and starts landing, but Guthrie continues to answer.
Guthrie looks for a body lock and Miller is turned to the canvas, ending up on her back with butterfly hooks in, looking for a sweep or an opportunity to elevate Guthrie. The Team Nunes fighter stays heavy and clears out as soon as Miller starts shifting her hips, searching for an arm, bring the fight back to a standing position with 90 seconds gone off the clock.
Guthrie crashes home a clean right hand, and again, as she keeps making Miller pay for throwing from too far out. They trade knees in the clinch and more labored strikes in space, with Guthrie continuing to get the better of things in all positions.
Miller continues to press forward, and starts to have more success, connecting with shots and finally twisting Guthrie to the canvas with a body lock, working to her back with a little over a minute remaining. Guthrie does a good job of trying up her hands, so Miller unloads two big knees to the midsection, finishing the round in back mount, landing a left hand on Guthrie.
Miller is standing in her corner, eager for the third round to begin, much to the delight of Dana White and Forrest Griffin who appreciate the intensity. Guthrie is on her stool, a little worse for wear as both sides are informed that they’re going to a third round.
Round 3: Miller closes the distance instantly, landing a long left as Guthrie looks to circle out, immediately recapturing the momentum she had to close out the second stanza. She ties up Guthrie and lands a knee, but it’s Guthrie that hits a nice body lock trip to land in top position.
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Miller does a good job hipping in, attacking a far-side kimura, and before Guthrie can recognize or adjust, Miller is torquing on the arm, rolling through each time Guthrie works to defend. Guthrie works to bury her arm, but Miller is still on it, switching to an armbar attack, bashing Guthrie with punches before giving up on the arm and attacking a D’Arce choke.
It’s not there either, but she’s on top and landing damage with half a round left to work. Guthrie is doing little to work free, much to the consternation of her corner, and Miller is content to hang out for a minute and gather her breath before continuing to unload clean, heavy shots.
Guthrie tries to attack a kimura and Miller is forced to defend, creating a scramble that allows Guthrie to get back to her feet. Miller is on her instantly, pressing her into the cage with 90 seconds remaining. They battle along the fence and Miller elevates Guthrie, looking for a takedown. Guthrie grabs an arm-in guillotine and pulls Miller to the canvas, but the Team Pena fighter is safe, clearing her head and taking Guthrie’s back in the final seconds of the spirited 15-minute affair.
They embrace in the center of the Octagon after the horn and get a standing ovation from White, who was thoroughly impressed with the fight.
Official Result: Juliana Miller def. Claire Guthrie by unanimous decision
White praises the fight as the highlights roll, while Nunes traces back her fighter’s performance, noting Guthrie did very well in the opening round. Pena highlights Miller’s pressure and resiliency in the second, which eventually started to snowball and shift the momentum in her favor.
Both Pena and White were impressed with Miller’s perseverance, and the youngest fighter in the competition is emotional celebrating her victory with the team after her bout. In the Team Nunes dressing room, Guthrie laments the loss, praising Miller’s toughness and her need to make some adjustments going forward.
Miller joins Dana White and Forrest Griffin at their seats cageside, and the UFC President makes a point of congratulating her on the effort. He calls that fight a reminder of exactly why they do The Ultimate Fighter, and wanted to ensure Miller knew he was impressed with what he saw from her in that fight.
Fight Announcement…
In the last heavyweight pairing, Team Nunes’ Chandler Cole takes on Team Pena’s Jordan Heiderman, whom we’ve seen or heard nothing from thus far this season.
Both are excited about the matchup and ready to punch their ticket to the next round.
