Kowalkiewicz continues to try and force Jędrzejczyk against the side of the cage, looking for a takedown, but the champion's more than able to handle it, and lands a big elbow in response.  As we go into the championship rounds, Kowalkiewicz needs to find something else if she wants to win this.

Image source, Reuters

Jagroop Shinbt
BBC Sport in Madison Square Garden

Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes steps up in the crowd and waves her hand at Joanna as if to say "come on."

Coming up on the half-way stage of the fight, and Jędrzejczyk continues to land strikes on her countrywoman, before bullying her up against the side of the cage.  Kowalkiewicz lands a punch but gets hit with one in return.  However, she's showing resilience in the face of Jędrzejczyk's attacks.

Kowalkiewicz cannot get the takedown, with every attempt being stopped, before Jędrzejczyk lands a spinning backfist just ahead the klaxon.  The champion ends the round with a bloody nose, but it is Kowalkiewicz who has absorbed more than 40 strikes to the head...

Image source, Reuters

Jędrzejczyk is known for her trash talking, and keeps that up in the clinch before the two return to the centre of the cage.  But the champion's nose appears to be damaged.  She stops Kowalkiewicz's takedown attempt again.

Jagroop Shinbt
BBC Sport in Madison Square Garden

The crowd are as lively as they've been all night but the loudest chants are not for the two fighters inside the octagon, but for Conor McGregor.

Kowalkiewicz looks almost casual, leaning up against the fence as the round opens.  She looks to close the distance again, grabbing Jędrzejczyk's leg up against the fence, but the champion manages to break the hold.  Jędrzejczyk is landing more strikes more often, landing a couple of big elbows before moving away.  Kowalkiewicz cannot seem to find her range at the moment.

The first round closes with Joanna Jędrzejczyk very much ahead, laving landed significantly more strikes on her rival.  

The champion appears to have the advantage in terms of striking speed, but Kowalkiewicz takes the fight to the cage wall and narrows the distance between the two, getting into the clinch.  

Jędrzejczyk lands a couple of knees from the clinch, however to get free and then opens up with a kick. 

Jędrzejczyk lands the first blows but Kowalkiewicz looks calm and confident as she switches stances to keep the champion on her toes.

But Jędrzejczyk is connecting with flurries of kicks and punches, tagging Kowalkiewicz with a punch-kick combination.

If you need any evidence of how much this fight means to both women tonight, the intensity on display at last night's weigh-in from both Jędrzejczyk and Kowalkiewicz should do it...

Jagroop Shinbt
BBC Sport in Madison Square Garden

The unbeaten Joanna Jedrzejczyk has proven to be one of the most intimidating fighters in the UFC but her opponent Karolina Kowalkiewicz is on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to intimidation.

A calm and collective approach is displayed by Kowalkiewicz as leans against the octagon walls and winks to the cameras.

Jagroop Shinbt
BBC Sport at Madison Square Garden

Joanna has a 96% striking ratio...

Karolina has a 100% striking ratio...

This is going to be a good one.

Image source, BBC Sport

Now for something incredibly rare – an all-European bout in the UFC.  And this one should be very tasty.

Ronda Rousey’s year off has helped put another woman in the spotlight – Poland’s Joanna Jędrzejczyk, now widely regarded as pound-for-pound the best female MMA fighter on the planet.

If you don’t know Jędrzejczyk, or Joanna Violence as her fans call her, she’s absolutely dominated the women’s strawweight division since joining UFC two years ago.  

She’s been champion for more than 600 days and is determined to cement her reputation as a role model in the sport.

“I know that I’m not the prettiest one, I (don’t have) big boobies and I’m not American,” she said ahead of the fight.

“But I want people to remember me as the best female fighter.”

Her opponent Karolina Kowalkiewicz joined UFC last year after impressing in Poland’s KSW and women’s MMA group Invicta.

Ranked number five in the world, and number two in the UFC rankings, she took out the highly rated Rose Namjunas in July to set up her title bout with Jędrzejczyk. 

What adds a touch of spice to the fight is that Kowalkiewicz’s only amateur MMA loss came courtesy of one Joanna Jędrzejczyk.  Revenge on the cards, anyone?

Yesterday was Poland's national day.  And what better way to mark it than two of the country's greatest athletes going head to head for the UFC women's strawweight title?

The championship matches start here...

Jagroop Shinbt
BBC Sport at Madison Square Garden

Any glimpse of Conor on the big screens produces a massive cheer from the fans inside the arena.

The Irish have spared no exception in electrifying the atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden.