The UFC returns Saturday for its latest pay-per-view offering, UFC 226 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The main event features Stipe Miocic defending his heavyweight championship for the fourth time against light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier.
The co-main event was supposed to be featherweight champion Max Holloway defending his belt against No. 1-ranked Brian Ortega, but Holloway was pulled from the fight Wednesday after being sent to the hospital for concussion-like symptoms.
MUEHLHAUSEN: Holloway situation a reminder that health must come first
The new co-main event is No. 1-ranked heavyweight Francis Ngannou vs. No. 5-ranked Derrick Lewis.
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Miocic (18-2) made a record-setting third consecutive title defense when he dominated and battered Ngannou to win by unanimous decision at UFC 220. When asked at the time about the possibility of facing Cormier, the part-time firefighter dismissed the notion. He was focused on the pending birth of his first child, wanting to relax and being away from the sport. A victory over someone of Cormier's caliber would cement Miocic as the greatest heavyweight of all time.
HALE: Cormier is the modern Joe Frazier
After blasting Volkan Oezdemir by second-round TKO at UFC 220, Cormier (20-1, 1 NC) was noncommittal about moving back up to heavyweight. He wanted to spend time with his family and, he also didn't want to didn't want to step on the toes of former heavyweight titleholder, main training partner and good friend Cain Velasquez, who was planning a return.
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Things drastically changed less than 10 days after UFC 220. Miocic and Cormier agreed to meet in what usually is the biggest fight week of the year and be coaches on the current season of "The Ultimate Fighter." Their bout helped make UFC 226 the most top-heavy card of 2018.
Sporting News will be providing updates throughout the day until we get to the first bout of the evening.
(All times Eastern.)
UFC 226 live results, highlights
11:33 p.m.: Up next at UFC 226, in heavyweight action, No. 1-ranked Francis Ngannou goes up against No. 5-ranked Derrick Lewis. Ngannou is coming off a title loss to Stipe Miocic at UFC 220. Lewis' won seven of his last eight fights. This is a matchup fans have been wanting to see for a long time. If you are expecting a grappling match, you are watching the wrong fight. Ngannou and Lewis are going to stand in the middle of the Octagon and trade leather until someone is knocked out.
Mike Perry beats Paul Felder in a bloody war
11:25 p.m.: Perry def. Felder by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28). The first questionable scorecard this evening, as I don't know how Felder won two rounds. Perry landed the heavier shots and it showed on Felder's face. The move up in weight proved to be too much for Felder. His power didn't translate to welterweight though. Give him credit for competing for another five minutes after suffering a broken arm in the second round. Most fighters wouldn't be able to do that. Perry notched his first win via decision. The move to Greg Jackson's gym proved to be effective. A big step for a guy who has all the charisma in the world and the punching power to become a star. He's now at the right place.
11:18 p.m.: In between rounds two and three, Felder tells his corner he broke his right arm.
11:15 p.m.: Huge left uppercut by Perry has blood gushing down from the right side of Felder's face. Felder showing the warrior he is, comes right back and connects on on an elbow to bloody up Perry at the bridge of his nose. What a fight!
11:12 p.m.: We just saw the unexpected from Perry. He lifted Felder high into the air and slammed him to the mat. Good to see Perry go back to his roots.
11:10 p.m.: Felder is bleeding from the top of his forehead after him and Perry accidentally clashed heads.
10:59 p.m.: Coming up at UFC 226, in welterweight action, Mike Perry faces Paul Felder. Perry had been set to face Yancy Medeiros, but the latter suffered a rib
