Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off for the last time this presidential election cycle, and the candidates were clearly primed for the fight. The Republican and Democratic presidential contenders took the stage at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas for their third and final debate, less than three weeks before voters will head to the polls across the country.

It was billed as the biggest prizefight in Las Vegas history, and Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump found plenty to fight about during their third and final debate Wednesday at UNLV. For 90 minutes under the lights at the Thomas & Mack Center, the two presidential hopefuls sparred on immigration and economics, guns and abortion, Russian hackers and the future of Syria and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Video

How to spin the possibility of Donald Trump refusing to accept the outcome of the election? “Who are you?” demanded Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, Trump’s military adviser who had once been considered a possible running mate. We were in the spin room after Wednesday’s presidential debate, and I’d asked if he thought Trump should say he would abide by the results of the vote. “Who are you?” he asked again. When I told him, he continued to walk away without answering the question.

How to spin the possibility of Donald Trump refusing to accept the outcome of the election? “Who are you?” demanded Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, Trump’s military adviser who had once been considered a possible running mate. We were in the spin room after Wednesday’s presidential debate, and I’d asked if he thought Trump should say he would abide by the results of the vote. “Who are you?” he asked again. When I told him, he continued to walk away without answering the question.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would not commit on Wednesday to accepting the outcome of the Nov. 8 U.S. election if he loses, challenging a cornerstone of American democracy. Trump's refusal, which his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton called "horrifying," was the standout remark of their third and final debate. It ratcheted up claims that Trump has made for weeks and has intensified in recent days that the election is being rigged against him.

With all eyes on Las Vegas on Wednesday night, hundreds of people gathered outside the Thomas & Mack Center to support their candidate for president, stage a protest or simply to get their faces on TV.

It was here in Las Vegas on Wednesday night that the two presidential candidates placed their final bets — to use a classic, if worn, Sin City metaphor. The third presidential debate at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center brought Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump face to face for the last time before Election Day. But it was a full circle of sorts for the candidates, who both secured key victories early this year in Nevada’s caucuses, helping them ultimately secure the presidential nominations and bringing them to the cusp of the presidency.

Why is Donald Trump futzing around with the fundamental principles of American democracy by refusing to say he’ll accept the results of the election?