Veteran fighter Jim Miller still has dynamite in his fists at the age of 39.
The American star pulled off the quickest win of his 43-fight career with a first round KO on the UFC Las Vegas fight night on Sunday.
Miller sent Jesse Butler to sleep with a two-punch combination — however, it seems likely that Butler was out cold before Miller landed his second punch while Butler was collapsing to the floor.
Butler sank in scary fashion and was wedged between the Octagon fence and the ground when the referee rushed in to stop the contest.
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It extends Miller’s record to 25 wins in the UFC — the most wins in the history of the fight promotion.
There was concern for Butler after the fight when he appeared to still be unconscious for a full minute.
UFC legend Michael Bisping said in TV commentary it was “hard to watch” the knockout replay after noticing that Butler was still out cold.
He was also full of praise for Miller.
“Wow. In the first round. In such a storied, professional career, that is the best knockout we have ever seen from Jim Miller,” Bisping said on ESPN.
Miller paid enormous respect to Butler after the fight after his opponent took the fight on just a few days’ notice after Jared Gordon was scratched from the card.
“I appreciate the heck out of Jesse, he came in here on just over two days’ notice,” Miller said.
“I had a great camp, feeling good. When I’m on, I am dangerous for anybody in the world.”
Miller declared his last goal for his fighting career is to make it through to be added to the UFC 300 card, expected to be held in 12 months.
While it was a dream day for Miller, it was a nightmare for Aussie Jamie Mullarkey
Mullarkey was caught on the chin by a powerful hook and fell to the floor in the second round.
In the space of a couple seconds he went from leading the fight to having his MMA career at the crossroads when Tajikistani debutant Muhammad Naimov finished off the fight with a flurry of shots while Mullarkey struggled to defend himself on the ground.
It was 28-year-old Mullarkey’s sixth loss in his MMA career to go with his 16 wins, and ends a two-fight win streak that saw him threaten to rise into the rankings.
Mullarkey’s dream of fighting at UFC 293 in Sydney in September is still alive.