This is the UFC 177 live blog for T.J. Dillashaw vs. Joe Soto, a bantamweight bout at Saturday night's UFC event at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.
Dillashaw, who has won four of his past five fights, will face Soto, who is making his UFC debut, in the main event.
Check out the UFC 177 live blog below.
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Round 1: John McCarthy is the referee. Dillashaw is southpaw, Soto is orthodox. Dillashaw kicks out Soto's post leg, but Soto pops to his feet quickly. Soto catches a kick, but frees it and takes Soto's back. Soto goes base down and Dillashaw hops off. The champion is back to stalking. The champion is cracked with two punches, but seems no worse for wear. Left hook to the body now from the Team Alpha Male fighter. Dillashaw jabs Soto a few times before the two uncork reaction shots on each other, Dillashaw getting the better of them.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Dillashaw
Round 2: Soto's right hand is finding a home as Dillashaw seemingly waves him in. Two hard outside leg kicks now from the champion. Good uppercut from the champ and he follows up with a two-punch combo. Hard knee as Soto gets too close works. Left hook counter lands for Soto as Dillashaw lands his own left hook to the body. Two good jabs from Soto work. Dillashaw attempts a sequence of lefts and rights, but most are blocked. Dillashaw level changes, but is stuffed immediately. Dillashaw backing Soto up with a series of tight quarters strikes, but most are blocked.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Dillashaw
Round 3: Dillashaw working in flurries to get Soto to cover up, although it's not clear what's landing. Two left hooks from Dillashaw find the mark as does another series of punches that pushing Soto backwards. Soto in on a single as the champ stuffs it with ease. Dillashaw throwing huge volume in very close quarters and then scores with a surprise double. Soto tries to turtle and Dillashaw attempts to take the back, but can't. Good body kick by the champ as Soto circles out. A couple of good jabs score for Soto.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Dillashaw
Round 4: Dillashaw misses with a head kick on a fleeing Soto and circles back out. Dillashaw switching stances and drives a hard inside leg kick. Soto moving forward, but Dillashaw's defense is better and he's staying out of range for the most part. Outside leg kick for Dillashaw finds the mark. Both fighters trade short punches on the inside. Dillashaw manages to score with another double. Soto attempts some rubber guard work, but lets it go. Soto's able to get to his feet in a scramble.
MMA Fighting scores this round 10-9 Dillashaw
Round 5: Soto attempts a single and is stuffed. Meanwhile Dillashaw scores with a head kick and aggressive punching combination with Soto's back against the fence. Dillashaw circling out and light on his feet. The champion digs to the body, which backs Soto up and then walks into a crushing head kick. Soto is almost out and collapses. The referee stops it there.
T.J. Dillashaw def. Joe Soto via KO at 2:20 of round 5