UFC 290 action is within reach as the undisputed featherweight king returns to remind the division who the champion is against the interim champion, Yair Rodriguez. Josh Gaillard previews the card here.
In the lead up to the main event, MMA fans can appreciate a trilogy flyweight championship scrap between the current champion Brandon Moreno and surging Brazilian, Alexandre Pantoja.
South African MMA lies firmly in the spotlight this weekend, as Dricus Du Plessis battles the former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker for the number one contender spot, as well as Cameron Saaiman, who steps in the octagon to defend his undefeated professional record.
Main Event
Alexander Volkanovski 23/100 | Yair Rodriguez 11/4
(Featherweight Championship)
After stepping up a division to challenge for the lightweight belt, Alexander Volkanovski returns to the featherweight division to remind all contenders who is the undisputed champion is against the recently crowned interim champion, Yair Rodriguez.
After tasting his first defeat in the UFC, Alexander Volkanovski (25-2) must bounce back from a loss for the first time in over a decade. The loss to reigning lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, was razor thin in the wide majority of public opinion, and the 34-year-old walks away with his head held high. Nobody can use the argument of Volkanovski’s smaller size differential to most fighters as he proves time and time again that he’s more than capable.
Yair Rodriguez (15-3) has always been tipped to fight for the title since his first appearance on the Contender Series. Defeating the likes of Dan Hooker, Chan Sung Jung, and the legendary BJ Penn earned a shot at Max Holloway, who stood between the 5’11” Mexican and the title, but his 71” reach fell short.
After such a demoralising loss, Yair made light work of Brian Ortega and Josh Emett to earn the interim strap. Now, at 30-years-old, the flamboyant fighter is ready to put the term ‘undisputed’ next to that gold strap.
Verdict: Alexander Volkanovski Win 23/100
What makes this an enthralling encounter is that while many would quickly pick the 12-fight featherweight win streak of Alexander Volkanovski,Yair Rodriguez is the ultimate wildcard – a guy that even when all the chips are down can pull victory out of the jaws of defeat with the most unorthodox technique.
Both fighters have proved capable in every facet of mixed martial arts, but the one who outworks everyone else – Volkanovski – is likely to be victorious through unmatched preparation, yet again.
Co-main Event
Brandon Moreno 47/100 | Alexandre Pantoja 15/10
(Flyweight Championship)
In the lead up to the main event, MMA fans can appreciate a trilogy flyweight championship scrap between the current champion Brandon Moreno and surging Brazilian, Alexandre Pantoja.
Mexico’s first ever UFC champion, Brandon Moreno (21-6-2), is coming off a title unification bout, where he defeated Deiveson Figuieredo to win the tetralogy back in January. Again, he fights a foe who he has battled on two previous occasions, but suffered heavy defeats. The 29-year-old has gone 7-1-2 since his loss to Alexandre Pantoja (25-5) which saw him win the UFC flyweight title, lose it and win it back again.
The Brazilian, Pantoja, rides a three-fight win streak after dismissing Mabel Kape, Brandon Royval, and most recently Alex Perez back in July 2022. Waiting a whole year for his shot at the title may have been a little to long outside the rigours of the octagon, but in the same breath he will be fresher and rearing to go.
Verdict: Alexandre Pantoja Win 15/10
After Alexandre Pantoja submitted Brandon Moreno in the Ultimate Fighter season 24, two years later the two would square off again, only for the Brazilian to hand Moreno arguably his toughest defeat to date.
Pantoja battered and bloodied Moreno on the feet and the ground earning a unanimous 30-26, 30-26, and 29-27 decision victory. The mental upper hand lies in favour of Pantoja and this could turn into another long winded back and forth for Moreno.
Top Treble for UFC 290:
Volkanovski Win 23/100
Pantoja Win 15/10
Aguilar Win 63/100
Treble to win at 4/1
Full card predictions
Main Card: 04:00 CAT, Sunday 9 July
- Featherweight (C) Alexander Volkanovski (23/100) vs Yair Rodriguez (11/4): Volkanovski
- Flyweight (C) Brandon Moreno (47/100) vs Alexandre Pantoja (15/10): Pantoja
- Middleweight Robert Whittaker (23/100) vs Dricus Du Plessis (11/4): Whittaker
- Lightweight Dan Hooker (19/10) vs Jalin Turner (36/100): Turner
- Middleweight Bo Nickal (TBA) vs Val Woodburn (TBA): Nickal
Prelims: 02:00 CAT, Sunday 9 July
- Welterweight Robbie Lawler (2/1) vs Niko Price (34/100): Price
- Welterweight Jack Della Maddalena (1/11) vs Josiah Harrell (52/10): Maddalena
- (W) Strawweight Yazmin Jauregui (23/100) vs Denise Gomes (28/10): Jauregui
- Light Heavyweight Jimmy Crute (79/100) vs Alonzo Menifield (92/100): Menifield
Early Prelims: 00:00 CAT, Sunday 9 July
- Catchweight Tatsuro Taira (1/11) vs Edgar Chairez (52/10): Taira
- Light Heavyweight Vitor Petrino (1/3) vs Marcin Prachnio (2/1): Petrino
- Bantamweight Cameron Saaiman (17/100) vs Terrence Micthell (32/10): Saaiman
- Flyweight Shannon Ross (11/10) vs Jesus Aguilar (63/100): Aguilar
- Bantamweight Kamuela Kirk (11/10) Vs Esteban Ribovics (64/100): Kirk
