UFC 229: all the action from Khabib vs McGregor megafight (AS IT HAPPENED)

According to reports, UFC President Dana White refused to give Khabib his lightweight championship belt after the bout and the fighter had to be escorted out of the arena. 

Chaos after the fight! Not content with submitting McGregor, Khabib taunts his fallen opponent and then turns his attention to someone outside the ring, hops over the octagon despite security's best efforts, and then becomes involved in a brawl in the crowd!

IT'S OVER!!!!!

Entering the championship rounds, the two approached each other cautiously, until Khabib once again took down McGregor, holding him against the ropes as he wished. 

Khabib battered and submitted McGregor by rear naked choke to defend his title and extend his unbeaten record to 27-0!!!!!

In the third, McGregor stayed on his feet for the early part, but Khabib, who the challenger had criticized for his striking ability before the fight, rattled off precise shots that took Conor by surprise. 

McGregor landed a sound elbow in one of the exchanges, but Khabib kept walking forward as though refusing to give away any ground and stand and trade with his man.

In the middle of the round, the two engaged in a boxing match in the center of the octagon, which even looked as though it didn't suit renowned striker McGregor. 

More pressure from Khabib forced McGregor up against the cage, sapping energy from the former double UFC champion as the round ended, Khabib goading his opponent when the klaxon sounded. 

Second round looked like it would begin as a standup fight until Khabib managed to knock McGregor stumbling back with a long right hand and followed it up with a vicious flying knee, which McGregor blocked.  

The champion nevertheless managed to take McGregor down and pound him on the floor, unleashing a huge number of blows that looked as though they would force the stoppage in the fight, until he relented.

Then Khabib was back on top of Conor, contorting the Irishman's body until somehow the challenger made it to his feet with a tremendous show of strength. It looked as though the Dagestan native was using McGregor, who looked tired as the round ended, as a rag doll.

Still three long rounds to go in this incredible fight.  

Extremely cagey opening round from the two men. Khabib perhaps starting the more confident of the two, and managed to take McGregor to the floor.

It has to be said that this is the champion's preferred game plan and he looked comfortable during the groundwork, while McGregor looked at times out of his depth with the master grappler.

A barrage of punches from Kahbib while McGregor is lay on his back accompanies the bell to end the first stanza. 

Polar opposite greetings for each fighter in Khabib's home town of Makhachkala in Dagestan, Russia. 

And here is the UFC lightweight champion of the world....

HERE WE GO!

Conor McGregor is in the octagon...

We're nearly there, the wait is almost over. Next fight is Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Conor McGregor. Say those words again to yourself. Drink it all in. In the words of the famous Bruce Buffer: "IIIIIIIt's (nearly) tiiiiiiiiime!"