Round five

Merab presses forward and scores with straight punches. Sandhagen with a well-timed knee to the body. Merab with yet another single-leg takedown, but he still can’t keep “Sandman” down.

Good cross from Merab, who grabs a body lock as Sandhagen misses with a hook. Sandhagen stands, separates, and lands a spinning back kick to the body. Lovely strike.

Merab with a knee to the body. Sandhagen with a one-two upstairs. Two minutes left. Trip by Merab, who lands in full guard. He seeks an arm-triangle, but abandons it.

He’s content to control Sandhagen, who continues to defend well. Big right hook by Sandhagen after he stands and gets free!

The buzzer sounds, and that’s that.

Round four

In trademark fashion, Merab bounces around, showing no signs of tiredness.

Sandhagen can’t quite land clean in the striking exchanges, as shown when he throws a body kick, which is caught and turned into a single-leg.

More good grappling defence by Sandhagen, who moves back into the open. Good left uppercut to the body.

Merab crashes forward and clinches, but Sandhagen shrugs him off then wings a right and left hand – to no avail.

One-two lands hard this time! But Merab seems unfazed?!

He trips Sandhagen, who rolls through but is caught in a D’Arce in the scramble... He survives to the buzzer!

Better round for the American.

Round three

Sandhagen looks calm, he’s staying composed. He’s done a lot well so far, so he mustn’t get discouraged. Easier said than done, mind you.

No wrestling from Merab in the first two minutes of round three. Some even striking exchanges. But there’s the single-leg into a body lock.

Once again, Sandhagen frees himself. But another single-leg gives way to a trip. Again Sandhagen stands and gets free!

Sandhagen chases Merab with punches. He’s tripped following yet ANOTHER single-leg, but yet AGAIN he stands. It’s a cycle.

Sandhagen is actually bleeding from around his nose and left brow. He defends another single-leg well in the early phases of round two, but Merab gets to the back then trips him.

Sandhagen pops back up against the fence. He gets free and immediately jabs to the body. Merab lands during a blitz, though, and he’s landing more in a prolonged flurry here!!

Sandhagen goes down! What is happening?! Merab is beating the striker at his own game! It’s much less refined, but it’s working!

The ref thinks about stepping in...

Now Merab hauls Sandhagen to the mat. But Sandhagen might actually appreciate a moment’s respite from the punches.

Merab with ground and pound, while Sandhagen tries to use his long legs to keep the Georgian at bay.

After such a strong start, Sandhagen finds himself on the wrong end of a dominant round.

Sandhagen takes the centre of the cage, but he’s soon backed up. He aims to fight behind the jab, while throwing low kicks as well.

Sandhagen with a decent counter hook as Merab darts in, putting the champ off balance. Another left hook from Sandhagen, then a combination upstairs and a low kick.

When will Merab wrestle? There’s a single-leg, but Sandhagen defends it! Good rear uppercut by Sandhagen. Merab with a cross.

Sandhagen again defends a single-leg, but Merab switches to a body lock and drives the American to the fence.

Impressive start by Sandhagen, but this is the area where the fight will be won and lost... and Merab hauls down the challenger! Sandhagen is back up, though, and soon free from the Georgian’s grip!

Two right hands land for Sandhagen, and another low kick. He switches stances back and forth. Body lock by Merab, defended well by Sandhagen. Both land strikes in the clinch.

Sandhagen times a knee to the body as Merab enters. First round to the challenger, and with very impressive signs!!

Dvalishvili, sporting sunglasses and dancing, emerges to a great reception and joins Sandhagen in the cage. The champ is all smiles.

Next up is the co-main event...

The debate has always been Dominick Cruz versus TJ Dillashaw. Now, there’s a new contender for bantamweight GOAT. As he embarks on his latest UFC title defence, Merab Dvalishvili could be about to cement his status of all-time greatness.

Dvalishvili has gone from underrated to undeniable. He wasn’t pegged as bantamweight’s next best thing when he first entered the spotlight, with back-to-back losses in his first UFC two fights instead having him touted for the cut. Thirteen wins later and the Georgian mauler is spearheading a reign of terror at 135lb.

Now, he squares off against proven contender Cory Sandhagen, the American striker straight out of Street Fighter, in one of the most important fights of the year.

Co-main event preview by Will Castle:

Jiri Prochazka def. Khalil Rountree Jr via third-round KO (strikes, 3:04)

Round three

That was a closer round, but likely still Rountree’s. He could well be 20-18 up. Either way, Prochazka must surely win this round to be confident.

A wild start to the final frame! Both men are throwing with intent.

Prochazka is storming forward with wide hooks here, perhaps realising the urgency he needs! He starts to land with increasing accuracy, and Rountree retreats!

Rountree is swollen around his right eye, he’s stumbling backwards and sideways. Can Prochazka get the stoppage??

Rountree clinches, but Prochazka lands an elbow and knee! Another knee to the body!

Prochazka tires, though, falling into a guillotine attempt by Rountree! Nothing there, but both men land elbows. This is the war we expected, now.

Rountree’s face is a bloody mess, and he FACEPLANTS from a left hook! It’s all OVER! WOW!

An early right hook by Rountree Jr frustrates Prochazka. Nice spinning elbow by him, though! Rountree comes back with a cross.

Prochazka’s footwork has been very odd, very jerky. It’s like he’s trying to burst forward, but his feet are sticking to the mat.

Wide right hook tags Prochazka...

A relative period of inactivity here, before Prochazka starts to blitz forward. Messy coming-togethers ensue.

Front kick to the body by Prochazka. Headshots on point for both men. Another body kick by Rountree, who’s breathing heavily.

The end of the round is tit-for-tat.