LAS VEGAS -- After attempting to become a double champion, Alexander Volkanovski returned to featherweight and successfully defended his UFC featherweight title with a third-round TKO against interim champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 inside of T-Mobile Arena.
Volkanovski smothered the crafty striking of Rodriguez with high pressure, ground control and takedowns for the first two rounds before exploding to a finish in the third.
The creative offensive output of Rodriguez was supposed to be difficult for one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world to overcome but the Aussie made it look easy as he nullified Rodriguez the entire fight.
After a first round where Volkanovski methodically pressured Rodriguez and controlled him on the ground, the champion dominated the second frame with vicious ground and pound and smothering top control.
Rodriguez made an attempt to get his striking game in order at the top of the third round and found some minor success keeping Volkanovski from getting inside. But the champion fired a right hand that caught the Mexican flush, throttled him with a heavy punches and threw his foe down with a slam.
That sapped whatever energy that Rodriguez had left as Volkanovski capped his successful defense off with ground and pound that ended the fight.
With the win, Volkanovski can either challenge lightweight champion Islam Makhachev to a rematch of their February bout that saw Volkanovski suffer his first loss in the UFC or the Australian can defend his 145-pound title.
But first, Volkanovski suggests that he'll need some time off to heal before he makes a decision.
In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja proved that he has Brandon Moreno’s number by claiming the UFC flyweight title with a split decision victory. Pantoja is now 3-0 against Moreno with his latest win but needed to gut this fight out by nullifying the Mexican’s high-octane jab with superb grappling and ground control.
The first time they met in The Ultimate Fighter in 2016, Pantoja defeated Moreno by submission. They met again two years later and the Brazilian took a unanimous decision. But Moreno’s comeback story saw him ascend to the top of the division and become a world champion in an epic rivalry with Deiveson Figueiredo. There was no doubt that the Moreno that Pantoja was fighting at UFC 290 was far different from the one he first met in a reality show. However, the grappling of Pantoja would again be the reason he would emerge victorious as he used it to keep Moreno's frantic offense in check.
One judge saw the fight in favor of Moreno with a 49-46 score but that was offset by two judges who valued the control and grappling to score the fight 48-47 for the new champion.
It was a close fight and it's possible that a rematch will happen. But, for now, Pantoja is the new king of the flyweights.
Here's how it all went down in Las Vegas.
UFC 290 results, highlights
Alexander Volkanovski pounds out Yair Rodriguez with 3rd round stoppage to retain featherweight title
Round Three: Yair working the kicks again and grazes Volk with a head kick. Volk lands a right hand that catches Yair. Combination for Yair lands. Nothing big but it has Volk's attention. Volk lands a combination of his own. Volk working leg kicks now. Clash of heads stops the action. Yair definitely got the worst of it. They restart and Yair misses a head kick. Combination from Yair lands and Volk rocks him with a right hand, left hook massive slam! Volk is all over him now. Pounding on him with everything and it's OVER!!!!
SN Unofficial Scorecard: --
Round Two: Yair trying for head kicks but coming up short. Yair rushes with punches and kicks but Volk avoids. Yair giving Volk all kinds of different looks with kicks. Volk lands a left hook but catches one in return. Slam from Volk brings it all to a halt. They are back to their feet but Volk leg trips Yair back to the mat. Elbows from Volk. Ground and pound. Yair is up to his feet but Volkanovski is just smothering him. Back to the mat again. Volk clubbing him with punches. and elbows. He's growing Yair with his top pressure. More pounding from Volkanovski. Both are cut and bleeding. Volk just pounding away as Yair tries to escape. Tough night for Yair.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Volkanovski (20-18 Volkanovski)
Round One: Volk pressuring but not throwing as Yair circles away. Yair misses a head kick. Body kick from Yair but Volk sucks him in for a takedown. Volkanovski banging away at the body inside of Yair's guard. Short elbows from Volk. It doesn't look like much but it is sapping the energy and explosiveness from Yair. Yair gets to his feet but is dragged down. More ground and pound from Volkanovski.Volkanovski threatens an arm triangle but releases when he can't switch to his strong side. More ground and pound. Volk in total control.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Volkanovski
12:33 a.m. ET: In a night full of upsets, there's only one fight left to go as Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against interim champion Yair Rodriguez.
Alexandre Pantoja edges Brandon Moreno with decision to win UFC flyweight title
Scores: 48-47, 48-47 & 46-49
Result: Epic fight. No robbery. Pantoja is now 3-0 against Moreno and it can be argued that he simply has Moreno's number.
Round Five: Pantoja lands a combination and Moreno misses with his return. Moreno pressuring with the jab. Moreno goes to the body and lands a trio of left hooks. Short elbow catches Pantoja coming in. Pantoja gets a takedown to finally slow Moreno down. Pantoja backpacks Moreno but Moreno holds against the fence. Pantoja trying to find a way to get a choke in but Moreno is defending well. They stay in this position as the fight comes to a close. Not enough for Pantoja to take the round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Moreno (48-47 Moreno)
Round Four: Body head combination from Moreno. More jabs. Pantoja lands a combination and gets a takedown. Once again, Moreno gets to his feet. Pantoja drags Moreno down again. Nothing happens for the first time in the fight and the crowd boos. Pantoja swiftly takes Moreno's back. Pantoja methodically tries to get an arm triangle but Moreno escapes and launches some ground and pound. They are up to their feet and Moreno bounces a combination off Pantoja's face to close the round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Moreno (38-38)
Round Three: Pantoja attempts to start the third round off fast but hits Moreno low. The action restarts and Pantoja charges in. They clinch and Pantoja takes Moreno's back quickly. He's working in a choke. Moreno is in trouble as Pantoja methodically works the choke. This is not where Moreno wants to be. They scramble and Moreno sweeps! They are back to their feet now. An exchange sees Pantoja land a right hand. Head kick from Moreno. Moreno is a tornado of punches and kicks as Pantoja tries to counter. Another head kick from Moreno and a strong jab. Pantoja trying for a takedown but can't get it. Pantoja tries again and gets the takedown. Another scramble and Moreno is in top position but Pantoja fires a series of elbows. They are back to their feet again. Insane pace.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Pantoja (29-28 Pantoja)
Round Two: Moreno working the jab but Pantoja is firing with everything. Big left hand from Pantoja lands again. Moreno rocks him with a one two. Left hook from Moreno. Furious action. Moreno storms in with a left and a right. Check hook from Moreno lands flush. Moreno gets Pantoja's back. He's working in a choke. Both seem to be resting a bit as Pantoja protects his neck. They scramble and Moreno ends up in side control. Back to the feet. Moreno smacks Pantoja with a left hook and a combination. Moreno's jab is on fire tonight. Moreno dances his way in with a right hand. Pantoja is slowing down. More jabs from Moreno. Moreno catches a leg and takes Pantoja down as the round ends.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Moreno (19-19)
Round One: Pantoja storms in with strikes but Moreno clinches and puts him on the cage wall. Moreno holding firm while Pantoja attempts to break free. They break and Moreno lands a right hand and a pair of jabs. Pantoja tries a leg trip but fails. Pantoja drops Moreno with a left hand! He's all over Moreno. Moreno makes his way to his feet after being in trouble. They exchange again and both land. Big left hand from Pantoja. Moreno loops in an overhand left. Brief scramble and Pantoja is on Moreno's back. The round ends but Pantoja has made his presence felt.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Pantoja
11:38 p.m. ET: We're going with round by round updates from here on out with two title fights coming up. First is Brandon Moreno defending his flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja. Stay tuned!
Dricus du Plessis stuns Robert Whittaker with 2nd round TKO
11:28 p.m. ET: In an absolute stunner, Dricus du Plessis made Robert Whittaker fight his fight and ended up stopping the former champion in the second round. Whittaker could never get in sync as du Plessis controlled the range, kept Whittaker from landing his big right hand and overwhelmed him in the second round with a barrage of punches to pull off the upset. We all know what's next and that is a showdown with middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
11:06 p.m. ET: An incredible night of fights continues with Robert Whittaker looking to turn back the surging Dricus du Plessis in a middleweight clash that has title implications written all over it.
Dan Hooker takes decision over Jalin Turner in epic battle
11:01 p.m. ET: Dan Hooker picks up a massive win over a guy many assumed would be in the upper crust of the lightweight division with a split decision. Two judges saw it 29-28 for Hooker while one had it in favor of Turner. Is the old Dan Hooker here to stay?
10:58 p.m. ET: This was vintage Dan Hooker on display tonight in an epic battle that will likely earn him and Jalin Turner a fight of the night bonus. It wasn't until Turner kicked Hooker in the head in the second round that Hooker went back to the man that we remembered and fought like a man possessed. After nearly finishing Turner with a choke at the end of the second frame, he overwhelmed him with strikes that nearly finished the job in the third round. But Turner kept coming back and made this one hell of a crowd-pleasing fight.
10:34 p.m. ET: Up next is Dan Hooker taking on Jalin Turner. Turner ended up missing weight by two pounds and will be fined 20% of his fight purse. Can Hooker get on a winning streak with an upset against Turner?
10:30 p.m. ET: So far tonight we've had four first-round knockouts that ended in under 40 seconds at #UFC290. Nickal (:38), Gomes (:20), Lawler (:38) and Aguilar (:17).
Has that ever happened before?
Bo Nickal blitzes Val Woodburn with 38 second TKO
10:22 p.m. ET: Well, that was fast. Bo Nickal didn't have to use his grappling or wrestling to get another victory. Instead, he just punched Woodburn's face in and finished the job in 38 seconds. The Penn State prodigy is on the fast track to success and could be in line to face a ranked opponent next.
10:05 p.m. ET: The main card for UFC 290 begins now! Kicking things off will be the blue chip prospect Bo Nickal facing off with Val Woodburn.
9:42 p.m. ET: And just like that, Robbie Lawler sends Niko Price to the netherworld with a series of left hands inside the clinch to end his incredible career with a first-round knockout. And the UFC honors a tearful Lawler with a farewell video package highlighting a spectacular tenure as a mixed martial artist.
9:29 p.m. ET: The streak of finishes at UFC 290 ends as Taira earns a unanimous decision victory over Chairez and quiets the crowd. But up next is the end of a legendary career as Robbie Lawler has his retirement fight against Niko Price.
9:10 p.m. ET: Tatsuro Taira and Edgar Cháirez are up now and the huge Mexican contingency here at T-Mobile Arena is loud and proud for Chairez.
8:45 p.m. ET: Man, before I could even type anything Denise Gomes lights up Yazmin Jauregui with the first punch she threw and wrecks her in seconds. Five straight finishes at UFC 290.
8:25 p.m. ET: Whoa. In a bit of a stunner due to how it ended, Menifield submitted Crute in the second round with a top side guillotine choke. Menifield was landing bombs as Crute went for a takedown. Menifield cinched in the choke and Crute immediately tapped. Curiously, Crute began removing his gloves in the Octogon immediately after. At 27, it appears that the young fighter may be ready to call it a career.
8:00 p.m. ET: Vitor Petrino remains unbeaten in his UFC career with a third-round submission of Marcin Prachnio via the arm triangle. That makes three consecutive fights ending inside of the distance and sets us up for the prelims to kick off with Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield in light heavyweight action. It's a rematch of their epic clash in Perth that ended in a draw.
7:34 p.m. ET: It's the last fight of the early prelims between Vitor Petrino and Marcin Prachnio. We've already had two first-round knockouts -- including one in 17 seconds where Jesus Aguliar obliterated Shannon Ross with a single punch -- and a unanimous decision. Not a bad start to UFC 290 in the midst of International Fight Week.
When is UFC 290: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez?
In the U.S., UFC 290 starts with the early prelims at 6 p.m. ET. The prelims start at 8 p.m. ET while the main card is at 10 p.m. ET. Volkanovski and Rodriguez should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
| Region | Date | Early Prelims Start Time | Prelims Start Time | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Sat. July 8 | 6 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET | 12:15 a.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Sat. July 8 | 3 p.m. PT | 5 p.m. PT | 7 p.m. PT | 9:15 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Sun. July 9 | 11 p.m. BST | 1 a.m. BST | 3 a.m. BST | 5:15 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Sun. July 9 | 8 a.m. AEST | 10 a.m. AEST | 12 p.m. AEST | 2:15 p.m. AEST |
How to watch UFC 290: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. July 8 | ESPN+, ESPN PPV |
| Canada | Sat. July 8 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
| United Kingdom | Sun. July 9 | BT Sport |
| Australia | Sun. July 9 | Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
The main card for UFC 290 is available in the U.S. and Mexico on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service for a pay-per-view cost. Earlier fights are viewable live on ESPN+.
MORE: How to watch: 'Conor McGregor: Notorious' documentary
In Canada, the main card pay-per-view is available on BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez PPV price: How much does UFC 290 cost?
- $79.99 (current ESPN+ subscribers)
- $124.98 (new subscribers)
In the U.S., the UFC 290 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 290 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $124.98 for the UFC 290 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 290 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $12.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
| UFC PPV Standalone | $79.99 each |
| UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) | $124.98, then $99.99/year |
| UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle |
$79.99, then $12.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
UFC 290 results
Main card
- Alexander Volkanovski def. Yair Rodriguez via 3rd round TKO (punches) (4:19) to retain the UFC featherweight title
- Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Moreno via split decision (48-47, 48-47 & 46-49) for the UFC flyweight title
- Dricus du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker via 2nd round TKO (punches) (2:23)
- Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner via split decision (29-28, 29-28 & 28-29)
- Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn via 1st round TKO (punches) (:38)
Prelims
- Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via 1st round KO (punches) (:38)
- Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Cháirez via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27 & 29-27)
- Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui via 1st round TKO (punches) (:20)
- Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute via 2nd round submission (guillotine choke) (1:55)
Early Prelims
- Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio via 3rd round submission (arm triangle) (3:42)
- Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell via 1st round TKO (punches) (3:10)
- Jesus Santos Aguilar def. Shannon Ross via 1st round KO (punch) (:17)
- Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 & 29-28)
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