Summary

  1. Postpublished at 21:07 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola beats McKee by stoppage

    That came as a real shock. McKee seemed pretty comfortable in that third round but a hard body shot dropped him to his knees and Sola starts throwing strikes.

    McKee isn't happy with the stoppage. Too early?

  2. Sola stops McKeepublished at 21:05 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    And just like that, it's all over!

    Axel Sola hits Rhys McKee with a body shotImage source, Getty Images
  3. Round threepublished at 21:05 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    McKee looks battered and bruised but he's dishing out punishment of his own in the early stages of this final round. He connects with a number of strikes but Sola takes them well before planting a huge kick to the head.

    McKee just shakes it off.

  4. Postpublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    "You need to hunt his head" Sola's corner tell him.

    They also tell him to go for the head kick.

  5. Round twopublished at 21:02 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Sola's left hand is landing pretty much every time it's thrown as blood splatters all over McKee's face but the Northern Irishman is certainly holding his own as he defends another takedown and smashes Sola with a knee.

    Sola attempts to lock McKee into a front choke with 30 seconds to go but I don't think the sweatiness of both men helped with the grip.

    Sola McKeeImage source, Getty Images
  6. 'McKee had success at the end of round one'published at 20:59 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Michael Bisping
    Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports

    McKee had some success at the end of that round with those unconventional strikes as he was defending the takedown. One of them definitely troubled Sola, and McKee grew in confidence.

  7. Round twopublished at 20:59 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Rhys McKee punches Axel SolaImage source, Getty Images

    Sola's hands are loose and he's looking to land but McKee nails Sola's left eye with a right handed strike. Sola may be having a bit of eye trouble here, he's having a good dab at it every so often.

    Some really great striking from both on show.

  8. Round onepublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Sola wastes an awful lot of time trying to drag McKee away from the cage and score the takedown but McKee does well to withstand the knees to his legs and free himself.

    Round one is done and dusted.

  9. 'Sola like an early McGregor'published at 20:55 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Michael Bisping
    Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports

    [Sola] is reminiscent of an early Conor McGregor. The way he stands, the precision of the movement and the power in the hands.

  10. Round onepublished at 20:54 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Blood is pouring from the nose of McKee with both looking to land some hard strikes. Sola nails the first takedown but McKee manages to quickly get back to his feet before eating some knees to his hamstring.

    Ouch.

    Axel Sola v Rhys McKeeImage source, Getty Images
  11. Round onepublished at 20:52 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Away we go and the Paris crowd is belting out the France national anthem as they try to get Sola going.

    Sola responds and cracks McKee in the mouth with a huge straight left but back comes McKee.

  12. McKee 'always fun and exciting'published at 20:51 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Michael Bisping
    Former UFC middleweight champion on TNT Sports

    This man [McKee] is a very talented, tough and gritty fighter.

    He is a finisher - 14 wins, 14 finishes. He has had some really tough fights.

    I like watching this guy fight, he is always fun and always exciting.

    It is an interesting match up here tonight.

  13. Tale of the tapepublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    A graphic showing the stats of Axel Sola and Rhys McKee. Sola: Record 10-0-1, Height 5'  11", Reach 74". McKee: Record 14-6-1, Height 6' 2", reach 78"Image source, Getty Images
  14. Postpublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Below you can see a pie chart of Rhys McKee's significant strikes in the UFC.

    Any clues as to where he'll be aiming for tonight?

    Rhys McKee's significant strikes percentage in the UFC
  15. Postpublished at 20:48 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    And suddenly the crowd erupts as Nice's Axel Sola makes his walk.

    He's not looking to be very nice in the octagon (sorry).

  16. McKee will be full of confidencepublished at 20:47 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Paul Battison
    BBC Sport MMA journalist

    Rhys McKee had the most difficult of starts to his UFC career in 2020 when he was stopped by current middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, before defeat by Alex Morono four months later.

    After returning to Cage Warriors, McKee rebuilt his confidence with three straight victories, but suffered two more defeats upon his return to the UFC.

    The pressure was on against Daniel Frunza in April, but McKee delivered one of the performances of his career as he outclassed the Italian on the feet to earn his first UFC win via doctor stoppage.

    The 29-year-old will go into the bout against Axel Sola full of confidence from that win.

  17. Postpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Rhys McKee is currently making his walk to the octagon to plenty of boos, of course.

  18. The champ is herepublished at 20:43 British Summer Time 6 September

    UFC Paris

    The UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is in the building.

    Not so sure about his top, to be honest.

    Tom AspinallImage source, Getty Images
  19. Postpublished at 20:41 British Summer Time 6 September

    Gomis beats Ruchala by unanimous decision

    William Gomis after victoryImage source, Getty Images

    The French crowd erupts as home favourite William Gomis takes the win by unanimous decision against Robert Ruchala. On his mum's birthday too!

    Northern Ireland's Rhys McKee is up next...

  20. McKee eyes more celebrationspublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sola v McKee

    Rhys McKee with his arm in the airImage source, Getty Images

    First up for us tonight is Northern Ireland's Rhys McKee against home favourite Axel Sola.

    McKee won his first UFC fight in April against Daniel Frunza but is confident there will be more to celebrate in Paris.

    "The fight game has a way of pulling you back to reality. There's a lot of hard work to be done so, as I said after the last fight, it's not job done but job started - and this is just the next work day," McKee told BBC Sport NI.

    "It's satisfying but the best days of my career haven't been written yet. This story of resilience is great but this next chapter will bring more glory."