The Ultimate Fighter 30 winner Juliana Miller returned to action for the first time since 2023 when she took on Ivana Petrovic to kick off UFC Des Moines on Saturday.
Miller was 3-3 as a pro, having won TUF as a fighter with just a 2-1 record, upsetting several more experienced names. Yet since that win, Miller had faltered twice, dropping fights to Veronica Hardy and Luana Santos. As for Petrovic, the Croatian was entering off a loss to Canada’s Jamey-Lyn Horth.
Petrovic held center early in the fight, with Miller circling on the outside. The Croatian worked her kicks, with Miller answering back care of a left hand. “Killer” Miller then closed the distance, clinching up and looking for a takedown. Petrovic stayed standing, but not before eating a couple of knees. Roughly halfway into the round, Ivana Petrovic reversed, looking for a takedown of her own. Miller defended that, briefly had a headlock, and got back in control. Petrovic would reverse again and get Miller to a seated position, adding a flurry of punches that might have been the biggest offensive burst of the round. Petrovic finished the frame landing to the body of Miller, who had tied up her other arm.
Between rounds, Miller’s corner told her that Petrovic had stolen the round at the end of the frame. With that in mind, Miller took the back early in the second but was at risk of falling off. She used the cage to reposition, and the pair got back up, Miller’s back to the fence momentarily. Back in the open, Petrovic landed a hook; they’d go to the ground again moments later, Miller on top, though she couldn’t keep the fight there for long. Their next grappling exchange would see Miller take the back seated, eventually getting hooks in, then a body triangle. Petrovic nearly reversed, but Miller moved with her, landing a few punches and finishing the second round strong.
Round three saw Miller look to take the fight to the ground again, much to the displeasure of fans in Des Moines, who clearly preferred fisticuffs over a fluid ground attack. Petrovic kept the fight upright regardless, reversing. Miller would later take the back and drag Petrovic down, however, with just over a minute to work. She had a body triangle in place, with Petrovic attempting to shake her off and dump her over the top. That took the pair to the final bell, and judges, where Miller claimed a unanimous decision win, two rounds to one on all three scorecards.
Official Result: Juliana Miller def. Ivana Petrovic by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
