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Diaz dismantles Miller as Hathaway makes winning return

Nate Diaz impressed in his stoppage win over Jim Miller © Getty Images

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Nate Diaz moved a step closer to a UFC lightweight title shot with a dominant win over Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3 in New Jersey.

Diaz dominated the home favourite for nearly two rounds, bloodying him badly with knees and punches before forcing him to tap out with a guillotine choke at 4:09 of the second round at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford.

Such was his confidence, Diaz even slapped his own face at one point, as he became the first man to stop Miller.

Diaz is now set for a title shot against the winner of the upcoming rematch between Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar, or a title eliminator against Anthony Pettis.

"I'm feeling good," Diaz said. "I know he's a great fighter. I have nothing bad to say about the guy."

Johny Hendricks is closer than ever to a welterweight title shot after he battled to a close split decision win against Josh Koscheck. Koscheck made the better start as both men opted to stand early, but Hendricks began to land with frequency in the second round, punishing the face of Koscheck on his way to a 29-28 28-29 29-28 victory.

Rousimar Palhares secured the leg lock everybody expected against Alan Belcher, but it proved his undoing as Belcher escaped and ended up on top of the Brazilian in their middleweight bout. Belcher eventually forced the stoppage at 4:18 of the first round.

England's John Hathaway made a successful return to the Octagon after over a year's absence, beating Pascal Krauss via a unanimous 29-28 30-27 30-27 decision. Hathaway dropped Krauss in the first, utilised his wrestling in the second and then unleashed his hands and knees in the third to become the first man to beat Krauss in an impressive display.

In the heavyweight division, Pat Barry was stopped at 4:38 of the first round by Lavar Johnson, who unloaded on his rival after rocking him with a head kick.

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