UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski celebrated his victory over interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Volkanovski secured a technical knockout in the third round, winning the bout at 4:19. The event took place at the T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2023.
Volkanovski, with a record of 26-2, left no doubt about his superiority as he dominated Rodriguez in their five-round scheduled fight. Rodriguez, who had held the interim champion title, was no match for Volkanovski’s skills.
Notable figures in attendance included former President Donald Trump, who walked alongside UFC President Dana White and drew cheers from the crowd. Trump even had the opportunity to shake hands with Las Vegas Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby, a known UFC fan. NBA champion Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets also had a ringside seat.
FanDuel Sportsbook had Volkanovski as the clear favorite with odds of minus-390. He demonstrated his dominance by taking Rodriguez to the mat and controlling the pace of the fight. In the second round, Volkanovski continued to deliver powerful strikes to Rodriguez’s face.
However, in the third round, Rodriguez fought back and prevented Volkanovski’s ground and pound by utilizing a series of kicks. Despite his efforts, Volkanovski managed to slam Rodriguez to the mat in the final minute and unleashed a devastating barrage of punches. Referee Herb Dean intervened, declaring Volkanovski the winner.
This fight marked Volkanovski’s return to the featherweight division after his loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. With five title wins, Volkanovski has been considered one of the best featherweights in history. He also ranks second in the UFC’s official pound-for-pound rankings, right behind Jon Jones.
The Volkanovski-Rodriguez match was the highlight of the International Fight Week card, which also featured another championship bout. Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil captured the flyweight belt by defeating Mexican champion Brandon Moreno in a five-round split decision.
Despite Moreno’s dominance in the second round, Pantoja’s ground game proved to be superior in the other rounds. Both fighters displayed their determination with bloodied faces. Pantoja secured the victory with judges Derek Cleary and Junichiro Kamijo scoring the fight 48-47 in his favor.
The event also marked Robbie Lawler’s retirement after a stunning knockout victory over Niko Price in the welterweight bout. Lawler, recently inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, concluded his career with a 30-16 record and one no-contest. The emotional fighter was moved to tears by a video tribute, and the crowd chanted his name in appreciation.
Overall, UFC 290 provided an exciting night of fights and memorable moments, solidifying Volkanovski’s status as the featherweight champion and Pantoja’s claim to the flyweight belt.
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