TUF 15 winner Michael Chiesa sought a signature win on Thursday night at UFC Fight Night 80.
A submission victory over one of the sport's jiu-jitsu aces fits the bill.
A bloodied Chiesa used a rear-naked choke to finish respected veteran Jim Miller in the co-feature bout at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, getting the tap at 2:57 of round two.
"All I've got to say is I'm in the top 15, I'm not taking any backwards steps," said Chiesa, who won for the fourth time in his past five fights. "At the end of 2016 I'll be a top five fighter and you'll be talking about me in the title.