Stipe Miocic v Daniel Cormier - Miocic wins via unanimous decision
Here comes the judge's decision...unanimous decision win goes to Stipe Miocic! He defends his title and establishes himself as arguably the greatest heavyweight in MMA history.
Round five - Do or die round for both fighters here! This will likely determine the victor. DC still appears to have gas left, and we know that's never a problem with Miocic. Miocic puts a tidy combo together then engages in another clinch, pressing DC against the cage. DC spins away, lands a lead hook. Miocic fires back with one of his own. Miocic clinches, DC is again pinned to the fence. He knows he can get this position whenever he wants it now. 90 seconds left, DC stuffs a takedown and replies with another right. DC lands an elbow, Miocic lets a left fly. Both men let loose as the fight draws to an end. What a war. I think Miocic has done enough to win here.
Round four - DC opens with some leg kicks. Stings Miocic with a couple of right hands. Stipe goes right back to the clinch. DC separates, his right eye starting to swell now. DC to the body, Miocic replies. Huge right hand connects for DC. Miocic has eaten some bombs. DC to the leg kick again. Miocic tries to clinch as the round draws to a close. DC lands a jab an overhand right to close. That's DC's round, I believe the fifth will decide this one.
Round three - DC still looks a bit shaky after that late knockdown. Miocic turning up the volume now, bringing some knees to the party. They clinch against the fence. DC may want to look for that takedown right about now, but he has taken some time regather himself here. Miocic lunging with shoulder strikes, trapping DC's right hand. Now they break, DC pushing forward but unable to find his mark. Lands a big straight right, Miocic responds with one of his own. Some serious heat coming from both directions. That was Miocic's round, likely up 2-1. Replays show DC copped a nasty eye poke at the close of the round.
Round two - Miocic stings DC with an uppercut, DC wings his way out of thew follow up shots. DC lands a pair of inside shots, those had some heat on them. DC's power advantage is clear. Miocic's output slowing a bit. Left-hook Miocic answers the DC jab. That jab working well for him. Miocic seems to have abandoned his. Crisp one-two from DC, fakes the single leg takedown and lands an overhand right again. DC stringing some combos together off the back of his jab. Miocic drops DC with a monster right hook! DC clings on as the round runs to an end as Miocic takes mount. Saved by the bell. That was DC's round until that final sequence.
Round one - Bruce Buffer launches into the introductions, it's time to throw down. The fighters touch gloves, let's go! Miocic looking uber-trim for this one. Measured start, Miocic lands a jab. Throws out some a low kick, finds its mark. Body shot lands, DC shoots for the takedown. Gets the front headlock and they're back to the feet, Miocic escapes. Lovely one-two from Stipe, follows with a right to the body. DC stings him with a low kick, set up well with a jab. DC overhand right connects. Eye poke on Stipe, he'll take some time. Leg kicks traded. Couple of rights from Miocic land heavily. DC with a crisp right after faking the takedown. Big right hook stuns Stipe to close the round. That was a tight one, maybe a slight edge to DC.
4:21pm - The champ makes his entrance. Can the American-Croatian go back-to-back against Cormier and seal the trilogy?
4:20pm - Here comes the challenger. Big 'DC' looking ready to rumble in his professional swansong.
4:12pm - Strap in guys, the main event is about to get underway.
Sean O'Malley v Marlon Vera - Vera wins via first-round TKO
Round one - O'Malley gets his leg kicks going early, tagging Vera regularly with some heavy shots. 'Suga' keeping Vera guessing with his feints, Vera struggling to find his range. Uh oh, O'Malley looks to be hobbled, seems his right leg is causing him some serious issues. Vera has taken note and is increasing his offence. O'Malley stumbles and falls to the mat, inviting Vera into his guard. Vera accepts and unleashes two enormous elbows. Referee Herb Dean steps in to stop the fight! that seemed a little early, but O'Malley immediately grabs for his ankle and is clearly in some real pain. Either way, huge upset win for Vera.
3:45pm - Cannot wait for this one. 'Chito' is the rising American star's biggest test yet. Can he derail the hype train?
Junior Dos Santos v Jairzinho Rozenstruik - Rozenstruik wins via second-round knockout
Second round - Huge overhand right drops JDS! The Brazilian tries to fight back to his feet but eats another heavy shot, a final flurry forces the referee to step in. Fantastic win for Rozenstruik.
First round - This should be a quality heavyweight primer for today's main event. Calculated start from the Suriname beast, who uses his kickboxing effectively to likely claim the opening round.
Herbert Burns v Daniel Pineda - Pineda wins via TKO
Huge win for Pineda, who comes in on late notice for his fight in six years. Works his way into a mounted crucifix and lets the elbows rain down until the referee steps in.
Round one - Fun featherweight showdown underway here.
2:49pm - And there we have it, Israel Adesanya's title defence against Paulo Costa is announced as the main event of UFC 253 in Las Vegas on September 27 (NZ time).
2:40pm - Team 'DC' is about to enter the building.
John Dodson v Merab Dvalishvili - Dvalishvili wins via unanimous decision
Round three - Another dominant round for Merab, who had plenty of success with his kicks and stung Dodson with a couple of heavy punches. The Georgian is fired up after that one! Should be a comfortable unanimous decision win here for him.
Round two - Merab again takes the upper hand courtesy of his grappling and cage control. Dodson really needs to start getting busy with his offence.
Round one - Smart opening round from the Georgian, attacking Dodson's legs and doing some damage in the clinch to negate the American's speed advantage.
2pm - Here we got fight fans, time to get into the main card of today's blockbuster event in Las Vegas, and we kick things off with a bantamweight clash.
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Kia ora and welcome to play-by-play coverage of the completion of one of the greatest trilogies in combat sports history, as Dan Cormier and Stipe Miocic square off with the heavyweight belt and their legacies on the line at UFC 252 in Las Vegas.
In the meantime, check out a preview below of today's big card.
LIVE COMMENTARY of the main card will start at 2pm
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Betting odds:
John Dodson - $3.10 Merab Dvalishvili - $1.33
Junior Dos Santos - $2.02 Jairzinho Rozenstruik - $1.73
Sean O'Malley - $1.36 Marlon Vera - $2.95
Stipe Miocic - $1.90 Dan Cormier - $1.83
