The fans aren't happy but this is mixed martial arts!

It doesn't have to be pretty, it just needs to be effective and that's what Muhammad is doing.

Muhammad has the back and full control.

Edwards is going to have to launch a desperate attempt to escape and could end up in trouble.

Daniel Cormier
Retired two-weight UFC champion on TNT Sports

The moment Leon gets to the fence, that is his trigger. Belal Muhammad has fought a beauty of a fight. Leon is just not fighting his hands fast enough.

Edwards is forced on to the cage and he's holding the cage to stay on his feet.

Mike Beltran warns him against doing that and Muhammad smothers Edwards before securing another takedown.

The body triangle is in and that will suck the air out of Edwards.

Gareth Bailey
BBC Sport at the Co-op Live, Manchester

After two quick wins we're back to a fight going the distance, and if that's the case it looks like we will have a new champion.

Can this crowd lift Edwards to a finish?

Five minutes to find one or Muhammad will be taking the belt home.

Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sport

A flying knee might be what Edwards needs, Muhammad has thrown all sorts at him so far.

Edwards starts with a hook. He needs more than that.

Out comes the head kick and then a left hook to the body.

Edwards threatens an elbow and he's forced to defend a takedown.

The champion needs this to stay standing.

Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sport

Belal is fighting fearlessly, he is throwing with no fear whatsoever.

If Edwards sees the buzzer at the end of round five then we are likely seeing the title change hands tonight.

Strap yourselves in, this could get interesting.

Daniel Cormier
Retired two-weight UFC champion on TNT Sports

Belal has so many doubters, people didn't believe and he knows it. To this point, he's proved he's the best welterweight in the world.

Muhammad is pestering Edwards with short digging left hands and it forces the champion to act.

Edwards spins away and gets top control for a moment.

He can't pass the guard and runs out of time.

We are going to the fifth and Edwards needs something!

There was a feeling this fight would be wrestling heavy and that's how it has played out.

Edwards is in a bad spot here. He's not on the verge of being submitted but if this round ends in this position then he'll likely need a stoppage in the fifth....

Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sport

Belal has to be careful, we have seen this everyone round, but Leon has always been able to find a way out of it.

Edwards is backed on to the cage again and Muhammad shoots for the takedown.

He's worked his way on to the back of Edwards and looks to have one hook in but he can't squeeze the other past Edwards' elbow.

He changes ploy and transitions to a body triangle, falls back and goes hunting for the neck.

Daniel Cormier
Retired two-weight UFC champion on TNT Sports

Right now, this is looking like another round scored for the challenger, unless it changes drastically.

Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sport

We cannot forget about the brutal head kicks of Leon Edwards.

Muhammed vowed to end this in three at Thursday's news conference but we go into the championship rounds.

Edwards attempts a high kick and it bounces off Muhammad's arm.

Edwards does land with a clean hook, though. That might be his best shot of the fight as Muhammad's head rocks back.

Muhammad isn't looking as fresh as he did at the start of the previous round.

Edwards has over three minutes of control on the ground in this round and that should be enough to send it in his favour.

There's a lack of creativity from the champion - no real punches being thrown - and Muhammed continues to defend.

There goes the buzzer.

Image source, Reuters

Daniel Cormier
Retired two-weight UFC champion on TNT Sports

I don't know why Leon is reaching across here, I'm not sure what he's trying to do.

Gareth Bailey
BBC Sport at the Co-op Live, Manchester

Belal Muhammad has slid out of that choke hold three times now, it's like his neck is made of vaseline.

The volume raises every time Edwards reapplies the hold.

Michael Bisping
Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sport

While Edwards is holding him, he's trying to choke out Belal Muhammad.