MMA Fighting has Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 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 night.
The main event is expected to begin around 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Check out our Beterbiev vs. Bivol results page to find out what happened on the undercard.
Artur Beterbiev (20-0) is the WBO, IBF, and WBC light heavyweight champion. Beterbiev has only fought once this year when he knocked out Callum Smith in the seventh round this past January.
Dmitry Bivol (23-0) is the WBA light heavyweight champion. Bivol knocked out Malik Zinad in the sixth round in his only fight of the year in June.
Get the Beterbiev vs. Bivol round-by-round live blog below:
Prefight: The fight is almost upon us! Fighters are taped up and just about ready to go.
While the ESPN+ feed breaks down the fight, the DAZN feed is showing hopefully a brief concert by Ciara and Busta Rhymes. Missy Elliott is now performing her hits now. It’s time for Get Your Freak On and now Work It! This fight has to start soon.
The mini-concert is now over. The walkouts are about to start.
Walkouts: Beterbiev is first to make the walk. He’s in a simple white t-shirt, no robe, with black shorts and gloves, and appears to have already worked up a sweat.
Bivol is out next. He’s in a blue, sleeveless robe with blue and black shorts and blue and black gloves. Both men make quick walks and we’re a few anthems and announcements away from this thing getting started.
Round 1: Both men out in orthodox and Bivol starts things quickly with his patented jab. Beterbiev holding the center while Bivol circles around and puts that jab to work. Beterbiev testing a few of his own but staying very tight. Both me just feeling each other out. And now Bivol takes the center and the lead and pumps that jab into Beterbiev’s gloves. Both men have tested the body a few times as well, but defense is the name of the game on both sides early. High, tight guards from both. Bivol searches with a left hook around the guard but Beterbiev catches it.
Very patient round from both me. Then Bivol lands a 1-2 down the pipe as Beterbiev lapsed for a moment. Beterbiev looking to land something meaningful but can’t find it yet and Bivol lands a body shot. Then with short time both me fire combos at each other and Beterbiev looked to have got the better of the final exchance.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Bivol.
Round 2: Beterbiev back out to the center and we’re seeing a pattern early: Bivol with more volume, primarily the jab, while Beterbiev is waiting for bigger moments. Certainly when Beterbiev lands, he does seem to affect Bivol more, at least thus far.
Bivol really putting that jab to work. He’s constantly in Beterbiev’s face with it now. But Beterbiev keeps coming forward, moving Bivol around the ring. Bivol stabs to the body and retreats. Beterbiev having a lot of success backing Bivol down right now but he’s not putting much leather down.
Both men blocking most of the activity now. Beterbiev cornering him and Bivol waiting to fire then moving. Beterbiev lands a good left hook just before the bell.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Bivol, 20-18 Bivol overall.
Round 3: Beterbiev right back to the hunt to start this round. Beterbiev going to pick up the pace a bit it seems as he fires to the body. Bivol giving a lot of ground now and still leaning on that jab.
Now Bivol opens up with a 1-2 on the counter that connects and earns some respect. Beterbiev still marching him down though, putting a jab on him and closing the space. Bivol’s movement is muting Beterbiev’s offense thus far but for how long?
Beterbiev lands a good right hand as Bivol circles out. Then another. He’s finding the right hand more frequently now and he’s walking Bivol down relentlessly. Bivol decides to dig in and they stand in the phone booth throwing. Beterbiev seems to get the better of it though as Bivol has to retreat before the end of the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Beterbiev, 29-28 Bivol overall.
Round 4: Beterbiev right back to the middle and almost immediately lands a thudding jab. Bivol staying on his bike but Beterbiev finding him better now. Well, as I say that, Beterbiev throws a jab and Bivol counters with a solid three-piece. And another counter from Bivol off the jab. Bivol seems to have found something in the timing.
Bivol still moving around and lands to the body. He’s gaining confidence as he counters with a combo and gets back on the move. Beterbiev loops a right hook around the guard of Bivol. Beterbiev then lands a counter right hand in response to a jab.
Bivol really keeping Beterbiev off balance with his changes and bursts of offense. Short time and Beterbiev lands a good 1-2 as Bivol moved against the ropes.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Bivol, 39-37 Bivol overall.
Round 5: Bivol comes out and tries to take the initiative to start this round and it results in the two of them exchanging some heavy leather in the center. Both men land OK but Bivol got the better of that one. Now he’s back on his bike.
Beterbiev just can’t quite get his power shots off yet. Bivol is keeping him off balance by mixing his tactics. And there Bivol lands a nice right hand. Beterbiev unphased though and he keeps coming, putting his own right hook into Bivol.
Oh! BIG jab from Beterbiev snaps Bivol’s head back and that might have hurt Bivol. Bivol retreating more seriously now and Beterbiev is on the hunt. Beterbiev lands a few but Bivol responds with a big left to gain space. Beterbiev resets and comes again though and a hook to the guard sends Bivol moving around the ring.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Beterbiev, 48-47 Bivol overall.
Round 6: Beterbiev back to the center and lands a heavy right hand early. Bivol on his bike but Beterbiev is now throwing power shots. Bivol has blocked them all, but they still physically move Bivol’s body. He clearly is the more powerful man in the ring tonight.
Bivol trying to stymie Beterbiev with movement but he’s slowing a bit in that regard. Bivol standing his ground a little more like he does right now and he lands a good combo. Beterbiev gets right back on him though and he starts landing. Bivol retreating and Beterbiev stalking him. Both men trading jabs in there. And Bivol holding the center with a solid combination of his own.
Snappy left hand from Bivol off a pivot. Beterbiev rips him to the body though. Beterbiev is brimming with confidence right now, charging in with power shots, and another big one lands to the body. Bivol responds up top but Beterbiev slips as the round ends.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Beterbiev, 57-57 overall.
Round 7: Beterbiev right back to work with his jab on the lead but Bivol lands a sharp right hand counter over the top. Beterbiev staying in his face though and sticks the body. Bivol getting back to his jab here, then lands a night long combination after drawing counters from Beterbiev.
Bivol back to the jab as Beterbiev’s output has slowed this round. NASTY counter from Bivol gets Beterbiev moving back! Beterbiev might be hurt! Bivol really tagged him there. But Beterbiev digs in and fired big shots back! If he’s hurt, he doesn’t even know it and now Bivol may have overextended as Beterbiev starts ripping into him. Bivol covering up and retreating.
And Beterbiev lands big shots! Nice little uppercut as Bivol simply covers up until the end fo the round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Bivol, 67-66 Bivol overall.
Round 8: No idea how to score that last round. Beterbiev got tagged but then Bivol got tagged at the end.
More patient start to this round from both men with Bivol in the center early. Bivol back to his jab, Beterbiev waiting a round a bit. Now he dips to the body as Bivol waits. Then Bivol lands a sharp right to the body. He’s holding the center well this round.
Beterbiev goes up top then to the body and that one lands. Bivol fires back and he’s starting to show a bit of wear over his left eye. And Beterbiev comes in to corner him but Bivol pivots out and sticks. Beterbiev lands a nice right and uppercut though. Then a jab. He’s taking control of the round. But Bivol tries to get it back at the end with a combination, Beterbiev blocks them all and then returns fire before the bell.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Beterbiev, 76-76 overall.
Round 9: Beterbiev on the lead this round but Bivol lands nicely to the body. Beterbiev lands a good looping left and Bivol responds to the body. Bivol takes the center and now he’s got Beterbiev backed up.
Only for a moment though as Beterbiev takes the center and back to the dynamic. Bivol upping his workrate this round though. Bivol sticks to the body and moves and again. Then a combination with a nice right hand from Bivol up top. Beterbiev can’t seem to find a comfortable spot right now as Bivol tags him to the body again.
Beterbiev keeps stalking and lands a pair of hooks but Bivol pivots and then fires of some salty punches of his own. Beterbiev bites down and runs him down but he can’t find Bivol in there this round.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Bivol, 86-85 Bivol.
Round 10: Beterbiev right back to the hunt and opens with some power punches. He needs to do this and he keeps it up, putting Bivol on the defensive early. Lands a good right hand and Beterbiev now really showing some urgency in there. Bivol keeps on the move though.
Beterbiev putting both hands on Bivol now. Bivol very defensive thus far as Beterbiev works both levels. Bivol blocking most of this but he’s not getting his own offense off right now. He does take the center but Beterbiev puts a jab on him. Beterbiev misses a right hook and Bivol now bitting down.
Bivol with mean combinations inside and Beterbiev looks to meet force with force. Bivol lands well but Beterbiev does as well and now Bivol has to retreat. Beterbiev chasing Bivol down as the round ends.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Beterbiev, 95-95 overall.
Round 11:
Round 12:
