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Bustamante: ‘Toquinho’ Stopped Because Miller Told Him To

7K views 71 replies 35 participants last post by  Sousa 
#1 ·
Could be true...who knows. One thing is for sure since there was no SOTN they both should be awarded FOTN!

Eleven months ago, Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares’ decision to stop fighting mid-bout cost him dearly in a knockout loss to Nate Marquardt. Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro, history very nearly repeated itself.

According to the Brazilian middleweight’s trainer, however, Palhares’ actions in the first round of his UFC 134 contest with Dan Miller have been misinterpreted.

Unlike his September 2010 defeat at the hands of Marquardt -- which saw Palhares punched out after the submission specialist turned to referee Herb Dean and complained that Marquardt’s leg was slippery -- Brazilian Top Team leader Murilo Bustamante explained Sunday that Palhares’ premature celebration against Miller actually came as a result of mercy.

Saturday night at Rio’s HSBC Arena, a heavy right head kick from Palhares felled Miller with 40 seconds remaining in the opening frame. The dazed New Jerseyite covered up as Palhares connected with half a dozen punches from above before coolly striding away, his arms raised in victory. Palhares leapt atop the Octagon fence to soak in the adoration from his hometown crowd, but there was one problem: the referee -- Dean, coincidentally -- never called a stop to the bout.

“Just to clarify what happened during Toquinho’s fight,” Bustamante wrote on his personal Twitter account, “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.”

Review of the fight video by Sherdog.com proved inconclusive: If Miller did verbally submit, it was drowned out on television by the roar of the Rio audience. But, as he beckoned Palhares down from the cage, referee Dean’s words were loud and clear: “I did not stop the fight. You have to keep fighting.”

And keep fighting they did. In a surprising turn, moments after touching gloves and resuming action, Toquinho found himself in a bad way, knocked down by a Miller combination. The Brazilian would regain his composure to finish the round with a takedown, though, and followed up with a dominant second period and a closer, but slower, third. Palhares wound up winning a lopsided unanimous decision with scores of 30-25, 30-27 and 29-27.

On Sunday, Bustamante offered no complaints about the non-stoppage, nor the extra 10 minutes of work his charge allegedly had to put in. However, the former UFC middleweight champion did take issue with the company naming a lightweight scrap between Edson Barboza and Ross Pearson the evening’s best bout.

“I think, as [with] everyone that watched the fight, that Toko should have won ‘Fight of the Night.’”
 
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#2 ·
I'd like to hear Miller's side of the story.
I initially thought that he thought that Herb stopped it when he was telling Miller to fight back, but if Miller said "stop. stop." then he (Miller) should have told the ref what happened and the fight should have been over. That's IF he actually told him to stop.
 
#10 ·
This is exactly what I heard when I rewatched the incident over and over again. It clearly sounds like someone is yelling "stop" once during that onslaught, and immediatly after Palhares walks away with his hands raised.

Ofc Palhares should have waited for Dean to pull him away, but this at least explains why he thought he had won.


I really like and respect Dan Miller as a fighter and person, but I find his reaction after Palhares walks a way a bit suspicious. He gets up and walks towards the fence, his whole bodylanguage signals that he has accepted defeat. If he hadn't verbally tapped, I just cant understand why he didn't argue the "decision" or go after Palhares straight away. Only after Dean made it clear the fight wasn't over did he run over to engage.

Very tough fight though. Was hoping for Miller, and second round was painful to watch.
 
#17 ·
Definitely sounds like "stop" to me aswell.
Poor guy, I feel like after all the heat he was getting for holding on to some chokes for too long (that leglock was nasty, but in the heat of the battle...), he might have just been extra cautious not to throw any unnecessary punches.
 
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#18 ·
No matter what was said it's only the Ref that decides when a fight is done, Palhares should have continued till HERB said it's time, we learnt that lesson from the last SF Challengers card that fighters don't decide on the finishing point of a fight.

Silly thing is Palhares could have pounded a few more shots and would probably have got the stoppage anyway, he just got too excited.
 
#19 ·
Just to play devils advocate there have been instances where fighters have stopped hitting there opponent and claimed the win due to bad refs.

Scott Morris vs Pat Smith is an example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwtJ6vMgeyM

I'd watch it on mute to save your ear drums from bleeding, also to be fair I think he was right to stop hitting him as he was definitely in no state to continue and I heard him say he would never tap or throw in the towel prior to the fight.

As for the audio clip I heard something that sounded like 'stop' around the time stated.

Also as far as Miller knew the ref may of grabbed Palhares and dragged him off so that's why he looked as if he had lost when he got up.

Finally I know ref's today are better than yesteryear :thumb02:
 
#26 ·
MIller knows that if he wanted out that Stop is not the way....you tap...And the ref doesnt just yell stop with his mouth but with his whole body. He made a big mistake he is human maybe he heard stop but its crazy to think that Miller yelled stop instead of tapping if he wanted out.
 
#27 ·
If someone was yelling stop, and I can't hear it in any of the stuff provided, it wasn't Miller. Miller gets up and the first thing you can see him say is 'WTF?' as he is pissed about an early stoppage. His corner points out to him the fight is still on and he goes to chase down Phalares but Herb stops him.

This is the bad side of what happens with a fighter assumes a fight is over before the ref stops it. A fight isn't over until Herb Dean has forced himself between you and your opponent.
 
#29 ·
NO. I just listened to that audio clip 5 times and each time Herb Dean says "FIGHT BACK!". "STOP" was never once picked up in that audio segment.

So, Paul Harris is a liar as well as a cheater, a retard and a sick f u c k that enjoys holding on to submissions for too long.

He's worse than Cheick Kongo.
 
#30 ·
I thought Palhares didn't understand English at all? If so, how would he know what Miller said.

This guy is just plain dumb.
 
#33 ·
I´m sure someone will ask Herb about it soon enough.

Anyway, i´m cringing by the comments about Toquinho understanding the meaning of "Stop".
Everybody in the f*****g world knows the meaning of Stop.
 
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