MMA Fighting has Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 live round-by-round updates for one of the most anticipated boxing fights of the year at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday evening.
The main event is expected to begin around 6 p.m. ET on DAZN and PPV.com. Check out our Beterbiev vs. Bivol 2 results page to find out what happened on the undercard.
Artur Beterbiev (21-0) defeated Bivol via majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 116-112) in their previous meeting this past October. Beterbiev became the first undisputed light heavyweight champion in over two decades, holding the WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF, and The Ring light heavyweight championship belts.
Bivol (23-1) suffered his first career loss in the clash against Beterbiev.
Get the Beterbiev vs. Bivol round-by-round live blog below:
The main event is up next!
Round 1: Beterbiev advancing first, Bivol right there to meet him. Fast jab from Bivol gets Beterbiev’s attention. Straight right from Bivol as he backs up. Beterbiev throws a right to the body. They trade body jabs. Beterbiev goes back to the body with that right hand. Quick combination from Bivol. Left hook by Bivol, Beterbiev answers with another right to the body.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Bivol.
Round 2: Bivol keeping that jab out there, he’s making Beterbiev work to close the distance. A 1-2 down the middle from Bivol. Beterbiev attacks the body. Bivol scoring even as he circles away, he’s not letting Beterbiev get his feet set. Jab by Beterbiev, Bivol answers with a straight right. Another right from a circling Bivol. Bivol maintaining a high output early in the fight. Jab by Beterbiev scores. Bivol with a left hand to cap off the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Bivol. Overall, 20-18 Bivol.
Round 3: Beterbiev the aggressor here, he knows he’s down a couple of rounds. He’s popping that jab and loading that right hand. Bivol’s jab has been so sharp, but Beterbiev isn’t afraid to trade with him. Counter combo from Bivol. Bivol makes Beterbiev miss as he ducks out of the corner. Another sweet combo by Bivol. Beterbiev has done little to break his rhythm. A Bivol right gets through Beterbiev’s defense. Beterbiev drives in two stiff body shots. Bivol fires punches up top.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Bivol. Overall, 30-27 Bivol.
Round 4: Beterbiev wants to press the action and he’s coming forward, but Bivol’s movement has been excellent. He’s not panicking even as Beterbiev scores with a few punches. Beterbiev mixes in a jab to the body. There’s no shortage of offense on his part, even with Bivol blocking most of it. Left hook to the body by Beterbiev. Bivol lands a right hand body punch. Right hand over the top by Beterbiev. Bivol lands a counter jab. This one is heating up.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Beterbiev. Overall, 39-37 Bivol.
Round 5: Strong jabs by Bivol. Beterbiev hits a right hand. Beterbiev to the body, Bivol needs to find new angles to circle because he’s getting figured out. They measure each other in the middle of the ring, throwing jabs and body shots. Beterbiev stalking Bivol, who is keeping his defense high and tight. Beterbiev keeps pushing Bivol back, he’s throwing so much he’s not giving Bivol much room to operate. There’s a strong right from Beterbiev. What a round for the Russian-Canadian.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Beterbiev. Overall, 48-47 Bivol.
Round 6: Bivol literally forcing that jab into Beterbiev’s face to push him back, but Beterbiev is relentless. He keeps swarming Bivol whenever he can take a step forward. Right hand from Bivol. Beterbiev jabs the body. Every time he lands one of those he advances. Quick combo from Bivol. Beterbiev splits the guard with a right. He just keeps coming, targeting the body and testing Bivol’s defense. Bivol counters with a right hand. Jab high and a body shot by Bivol. Counter left from Bivol, Beterbiev takes it and connects during an exchange. Beterbiev ends the round with a flurry. Close one to call.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Beterbiev. Overall, 57-57.
Round 7: Beterbiev throwing that right hand with reckless abandon. Bivol with a sharp head-body combo. Beterbiev cutting off the ring well. Bivol trusting his jab. Good combo from Bivol. Bivol showing the slightest hesitation to throw back when Beterbiev makes an error. Bivol fires out a combination, then another. Jabs from Bivol keep Beterbiev from getting his offense going.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Bivol. Overall, 67-66 Bivol.
Round 8: Beterbiev getting busy with his jab. Counter right from Bivol, but Beterbiev stays on the offensive. They trade jabs to the body. Bivol sees something because he’s throwing heavy leather and Beterbiev looks off. Bivol has found his rhythm again and he has Beterbiev chasing him. Beterbiev tags the body. Jab by Bivol, followed by two body shots. Beterbiev goes to the body, but takes a counter right.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Bivol. Overall, 77-75 Bivol.
Round 9: Bivol showing off fast hands, firing in straight shots. Beterbiev has to focus on defense here, with Bivol hunting for a KO blow. Bivol’s jab is back in action. He ducks a Beterbiev punch, immediately reversing their positions, and then cracks Beterbiev with a combinations. Bivol is looking damn good right now. Beterbiev has to find an answer because he’s catching a lot of air while absorbing punches.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Bivol. Overall, 87-84 Bivol.
Round 10: Beterbiev mixing up his punches, probably a good strategy right now. Not much from Bivol actually through half a round. Another momentum swing in order, perhaps? Gorgeous combo from Bivol as he rips the body and then goes up top. Straight right by Beterbiev. Beterbiev gets in with a body shot and gets out. More output from Beterbiev in this round, he’s not out of this yet. Beterbiev jabs the body. Nice rush from Bivol at the end of the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Beterbiev. Overall, 96-94 Bivol.
Round 11: Beterbiev with a quick strike to the body. Bivol answers with a combination. Overhand right by Beterbiev, Bivol again answers with multiple punches. Bivol shovels a right up between Beterbiev’s gloves as he circles. Beterbiev having some success with his jab, but he needs something heavier to keep pace with Bivol. Bivol controlling the range, landing and then immediately getting his defense set. Right hand to Beterbiev’s body. Big flurry in close from Bivol. Glancing right hand by a dancing Bivol.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Bivol. Overall, 106-103 Bivol.
Round 12: Beterbiev coming out hot, he wants a finish. Bivol throwing straight punches to slow Beterbiev’s advance. Bivol cutting a blistering pace even in the final minutes, Beterbiev right there with him. Bivol circling and waiting for his moment. Beterbiev busier, just hoping to break Bivol down. They trade power punches. Beterbiev to the body. This looks like a Beterbiev round, scores are going to be close again. These two are just so evenly matched. Last 30 seconds, Beterbiev in hot pursuit. They trade punches before the bell. Your guess is as good as mine.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Beterbiev. Overall, 115-113 Bivol.
Official result: Dmitry Bivol def. Artur Beterbiev via majority decision (114-114, 116-112, 115-113)
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