Numerous storylines emerged after UFC 134 wrapped on Saturday ? Big Nog fending off Father Time, ?Shogun? shooting back into title contention, ?The Spider? leaving everyone speechless again with his insane skills, etc. ? but the most awkward moment of the night occurred between Rousimar Palhares (Pictured) and Dan Miller.
After dropping Miller with a head kick and unloading countless bombs on his dazed opponent, Palhares felt he had done enough and decided to stop the fight HIMSELF. That?s when ?Toquinho?s? premature post-fight celebration began, which even included a trip on top of the cage.
Unfortunately for the Brazilian, referee Herb Dean NEVER stepped in to call the contest and the fight continued. According to his manager, Murilo Bustamante, Palhares claims Miller verbally submitted during the onslaught and that?s why he halted his attack.
?Just to clarify what happened during Toquinho?s fight [Saturday] night in UFC 134 in Rio,? Bustamante posted on his Twitter, ?He told me that he stopped because his opponent said ?stop, stop? when he was punching him hard. Then, he stopped [hitting] him and thought that the fight was over and went to celebrate.
?Who can say now that ?Toko? isn?t a fair fighter? He is just too naive, but he has a big heart.?
However, manager and trainer Mike Constantino professes his client never cried uncle.
?Dan assures me he did not say a word during that exchange,? Constantino told Sherdog. ?Needless to say that with the loud crowd, the language barrier, the adrenaline rush and every other factor involved ? including ?do not stop until the ref pulls you off? ? I do not believe that Toquinho pulled up because of Dan murmuring ?stop, stop.? The fact remains that Dan Miller did not say ?stop, stop? ? there is no need to argue the toughness and mettle of Dan Miller, however I just have to put the facts on the table after hearing this.?
When Palhares started his celebration, Miller did not protest the ?stoppage.? He stood back up and calmly walked to his corner. Constantino states that was only because Miller believed the fight had actually been called.
?He could not see and by Toquinho?s reaction, Dan assumed Herb stopped the fight,? Constantino added. ?Once he heard us screaming to turn around and the fight wasn?t stopped, he ran across the Octagon to continue fighting.?
Once the middleweight affair resumed, Miller floored Palhares with a right just as the 1stRound was about to end. Palhares managed to hold on for a lopsided unanimous decision victory, but it was one of the oddest Octagon bouts ever.
If fans recall, Palhares was punched out by Nate Marquardt at ?UFC Fight Night 22? after the submission specialist turned to the referee and complained that Marquardt?s leg was slippery. There were no illegal greasing agents found on Marquardt?s ankles.
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