UFC 225: Robert Whittaker vs Yoel Romero - Live updates

Kia ora and welcome to live commentary of UFC 225, where Kiwi-born Robert Whittaker takes on Yoel Romero in the headline act of a stacked card of fights in Chicago.

Whittaker's middlewight belt may be off the line after Romero missed weight, but it's certain to be a rematch that delivers on the fight front.

Samoan-Aussie Tai Tuivasa is back in the thick of the heavyweight action, while Queensland's Megan Anderson makes her Octagon debut against Rousey-killer, Holly Holm.

We even have a former WWE superstar in the mix, as CM Punk looks to bounce back from the rude awakening of his first pro MMA bout. Has he improved enough to make people sit up and take notice?

Probably not, but tune in anyway to find out.

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Live updates

Robert Whittaker vs Yoel Romero - Whittaker wins via split decision

Whittaker gets the split decision win! He tells Joe Rogan that he severely hurt his hand in the second round and could barely feel it the remainder of the bout. He definitely realises it was a tight one on the scorecards - "He hits like a truck," Whittaker laughs.

Trilogy on the cards? 

Round five - I think it may well come down to this round, winner takes all. Monster right hand from Romero sends Whittaker sprawling to the mat! Romero pounces and lets loose with the ground and pound, Whittaker somehow battles his way back to his feet. Romero puts him on the fence and drills some deep knees, Whitaker is almost in pure survival mode here. Whittaker looks to have regained some juice as they separate, Romero puts his head down and charges with the overhand right as the lock ticks away, and this one has gone the distance. Good luck scoring this one. Either way, this was an absolutely fantastic duel between two warriors.

Round four - These opening moments will tell us a lot about who's recovered the most effectively was we enter the championship rounds. Whittaker with some encouraging signs, lands a hefty kick to the head which Romero only half blocks. Heavy exchanges as the round draws to a close, that was a tight one. 

Round three - Romero catches Whittaker with a heavy right hand and the Aussie is wobbled! Romero swarms in an effort to finish him, catches another uppercut to rock his opponent. Whittaker clings on for dear life. Has Romero emptied the gas tank trying to end the fight? Whittaker breaks from the clinch and goes straight to his kicks. Romero back on the front foot, Whittaker swings back - what an incredible round of action. That one has to go the Cuban's way, but Bobby Knuckles may well have bought enough time to recover. He was really in trouble there at one stage.

Round two - Pace turns up a notch, Whittaker really ramping up his volume of shots, and from every angle. Romero's right eye is wearing the damage too, it's massively swollen and has to be significantly impairing his vision. Whittaker realises his advantage and goes to his left-hand which Romero will barely see coming. Another round for Whittaker.

Round one - Feeling out process early for both men. Whittaker maintaining a good distance, stinging Romero regularly with his jab. Whittakler closes the gap and goes to the body, quickly evades the counter. Romero passive through the opener, that's Rob's round.

4:45pm - It's hoodies up for Whittaker as he makes his way to The Octagon. The man looks focused and angry, a dangerous combination.

Rafael Dos Anjos vs Colby Covington - Covington wins via unanimous decision

Apparently Covington's taking the belt to Trump's office and laying it on his desk. Oh, and he's after Tyron Woodley. 

Round five - The final round underway, interim title up for the taking! Covington starts strongly yet again, quickly putting RDA on the fence. Both men still throwing plenty as the fight draws to a close - and this one is done. I think this one is going the American's way.

Round four - RDA needs to turn things around ASAP because he's cruising to a loss here. Huge left hand from RDA, let's see if this kickstarts something. Takedown RDA, ca he put that elite BJJ to use?

Round three - More of the same from Covington, barely giving RDA space to breathe. RDA takes on to the groin and kneels to take a moment, Colby responds by mocking him. RDA lands an uppercut but CC responds by pressing forward with a knee and puts his back against the cage. 

Round two - Covington again suffocates RDA from the bell, forcing the Brazilian to fight his fight. RDA seems flustered at the moment, can't quite establish a rhythm amid this relentless pressure. RDA starts warm up, lands a couple of heavy shots. Colby with a jarring uppercut, and he has RDA against the fence. That's two in the bank for the bad guy.

Round one - Covington bolts out of the gate, swarming RDA with punches then briefly taking him to ground. Covington pushing the pace, not giving RDA any room to move. That's an impressive opener for the American, you'd have to give him that one.

3:56pm - The boos are thick and loud for Covngton. meanwhile, RDA gets a warm, if slightly tepid, reception.

3:53pm - Co-main event time now, and it's the man everyone loves to hate making his walk to the middle, Colby Covington.

Megan Anderson vs Holly Holm - Holm wins via unanimous decision

Round three - Anderson discovering the difference between Invicta and the UFC the hard way. Holm is having her way in the grappling department and completely dictating terms. Back in full mount now and breaching Anderson's defence at will.That said, Holm has markdedly improved in the wrestling department, impressive stuff from the former bantamweight champ. Should be a straightforward UD win for the Denver-native.

Round two - Holm starts to pour it on now, exposing Anderson's deficiency on the ground and just sitting in mount and landing frequently with elbows. Big round for "The Preacher's Daughter".

Round one - Anderson comnes out and quickly establishes herself, using her range to through some stinging knees and elbows. The size disaprity here is jarring, the Aussie is dwarfing Holm. Holm settling into her work now, landing a big knee followed by a straight right and they hit the mat to end the round. Holm's better position to close the round may clinch her that one.

Tai Tuivasa vs Andrei Arlovski - Tuivasa wins via unanimous decision

The decision is in...and Tuivasa gets the nod! Hold tight for the shoey...Rogan turns down a request for a loan of one of his, but he soon finds a willing sole at cageside and down the hatch it goes.

Round three - Both fighters bloodied and bruised and still swinging for the fences, this has been a treat. Arlovski finishing the lighter on his feet. This is going to be a tough decision for the judges, could go either way.

Round two - Rare territory here for Tuivasa, his fights are normally done by this stage. Both me men throwing some heat, plenty of exchanging on the feet. This is highly enjoyable viewing.

Round one - Leg kicks traded to start, and it's into the clinch. Some tidy dirty (??) boxing from Tuivasa, landing some uppercuts at close range. Tuivasa with a sneaky trip and lands himself in full mount. Arlovski clinging to Tuivasa's arm for dear life to prevent him from posturing up and unleashing. ref stands them up, and immediately Tai sits Arlovski back down. Blood gushing from Tuivasa's head, unclear what caused that, may have been a head-clash. Tai with a crisp one-two, right on the money. First round in the bank for the Aussie.

2:52pm - The Chi-town based Arlovski attempts to win some more local support, waving a Chicago Police flag on his way the middle.

2:50pm -  Tuivasa makes his Octagon walk, the Aboriginal flag proudly held aloft behind him as Celine Dion's 'My heart will go on'. Yeah, that's actually happening.

CM Punk vs Mike Jackson - Jackson wins via unanimous decision

Jackson takes a selfie as his hand's raised, 30-26 scorecards all round. 

Round three - Jackson leads with a couple of jabs then settled back into a clinch, delivering knees and punches at will. Big left sinks Punk to his feet, this tinme Jackson welcomes back into the stand-up. Some impressive heart here from Punk, he's battling through this but he looks spent. Jackson is doing whatever he wants. More clinching, more elbows, and back to the mat we go. Is it possible say Punk is trying really hard without seeming patronising? Thecontest limps to a close, and at least one of these fighters' UFC careers is done after this.

Round two - Early shots from Jackson force Punk into another clinch. Jackson wobbles Punk with a couple of straight rights and he looks set to go down, clings on to a half-hearted guillotine but Jackson takes him to the ground. Jackson sits far too easily in his guard and lances Punk with shots to the face. Punk is really cut up now, his face a bloody mess. Jackson content to just sit there and rain shots with no real defence offered from Punk, he's just showboating now. This round is officially in 10-8 territory for Jackson. Punk looks done.

Round one - Look at this, Punk with the crafty footwork and a couple of shots ov er the top, then he presses forward and engages in the clinch. Jackson responds with a big shot over the top. Punk's throwing the one-two with some pop but he's leaving himself open for Jackson to cunter. Takedown Punk! Jackson stuffed at least six but that one got thourgh. Jackson to his feet swiftly, lands an elbow on the final break. Fairplay, Punk's certainly improved - but Jackson gets that round in my books.

2:15pm - Punk enters the Octagon to the strains of Living Colours seminal classic "Cult of Personality". Apparently that was his entrance tune back during his play-fighting days.

2:10pm - Just how improved will Punk be here tonight? He'll have a fervent hometown crowd behind him, let's see if that inspires something special in the ex-WWE megastar.

2pm - The undercard definitely delivered, highlighted by Curtis Blaydes' lethal elbows from the mount to finish Alisair Overeem, and a fantastic flyweight duel which saw Sergio Pettis get past Joseph Benavidez via spli decision.

We're now into the main slate of action from Chicago. Let's dance.

Main card

CM Punk vs Mike Jackson

Andrei Arlovski vs Tai Tuivasa

Holly Holm vs Megan Anderson

Rafael Dos Anjos vs Colby Covington

Robert Whittaker vs Yoel Romero

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