Aussie star out of UFC 290 after US rival withdraws due to shock brain diagnosis

‘Guy is a weapon’: Legend rates fight star arguably Australia’s greatest current athlete

Then on the red carpet before Thursday night’s big UFC Hall of Fame event, during which he was inducted, Cowboy also backed his “brother” for an upset win.

“Two Mexicans are going to win the belts,” Cerrone said, referencing Rodriguez and Brandon Moreno, the latter of whom also defends his flyweight strap against Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja in the co-main.

“I know I’m talking to the Australian press right now – and I love Alex, don’t get me wrong – but he’s fighting my blood, you know what I mean?

“That’s my brother, my family member.

“And Yair is going to figure it out.”

2. Does Robert Whittaker win easily enough to headline UFC Sydney in just nine weeks?

Robert Whittaker insists nine weeks will be more than enough time to prepare for his hyped UFC trilogy bout against Israel Adesanya – even though one of the fight company’s most respected analysts is tipping against it.

More than simply beating South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290 on Sunday, Whittaker must come through unscathed if he then wants to challenge his famed Trans Tasman rival at UFC 293 in Sydney, September 10.

Others however are not so sure, with even UFC president Dana White admitting to us this week that he would be surprised if other fighter comes through the middleweight showdown without some injury issues.

UFC commentator Jon Anik is also backing Whittaker out of Sydney, saying the former champ won’t make the quick turnaround, even if he beats Du Plessis “with the first punch he throws”.

While Whittaker has been reluctant to discuss anything outside Sunday’s clash, he did admit to us this week that should he get through Du Plessis unscathed, he will then definitely fight Adesanya in Sydney.

“If the body and mind is able, I’ll fight,” he said. “They’re the two things I can control and if they’re right, I’ll fight.”

But speaking on the Hall of Fame red carpet Thursday night, Anik said: “Knowing Robert Whittaker the way I do, it is ambitious, idealistic and unrealistic (to think) he’s going to accept a fight with Israel Adesanya nine weeks after he fights Dricus Du Plessis.

“Even if he beats Du Plessis with the first punch he throws, knowing Robert the way I do, knowing the way he approaches his recovery and preparation, I don’t believe his third crack at Izzy is going to come without an optimal training camp.

“But you never know.”

Elsewhere, it was announced this week that Mt Druitt heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has signed on to face former Bellator champ and fellow contender Alexander Volkov at the Sydney event.

3. Where does Volkanovski sit in UFC GOAT debates with a win?

One of the UFC’s greatest fighters ever says Alexander Volkanovski is set to join him in the overall GOAT debate with a win this Sunday.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Georges St Pierre said a win over Yair Rodriguez this Sunday would put ‘The Great’ among the top echelon of fighters to ever compete in the sport.

While a victory would see the Australian firm heavily as the greatest UFC featherweight of all time – atop a stellar field which includes Jose Aldo, Max Holloway and Conor McGregor — GSP says it will take Volk even higher than that.

Fellow UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping agrees, adding: “Right now we are living through what will go down as one of the greatest eras in Mixed Martial Arts history.

“We talk about Jon Jones, we talk about Anderson Silva, we talk about Georges St Pierre … and in a few days time we’re going to be talking about Alexander Volkanovski.”

Speaking on the Hall of Fame red carpet, St Pierre said: “Alex Volkanovski has a chance with this fight to become part of a very select group.

“One thing fighters who could be called GOAT have in common, they’ve beaten guys of the previous generation, guys of their generation and guys of the future generation.

“And now Alex is in a position to beat a man who comes from that future generation.

“It’s going to be a hell of challenge, it’s interesting.”

Asked about his own place in the GOAT debate, GSP continued: “I did my best but there are other guys there as well.

“It’s a very subjective thing, everybody has an opinion on it. But Alex Volkanovski can be part of that group.

“Normally we judge athletes at the end of their career, as a whole, when we can step back, and that’s what he tends to do.

“But if he wins this fight he can certainly be part of that group.”

4. How does Jimmy Crute go with dad back in his corner?

One of the great untold stories of UFC 290 fight week is the fact popular Aussie light heavyweight Jimmy Crute has dad back in his corner for Sunday’s showdown.

A Melbourne psych nurse, Gary Crute had cornered all of his son’s UFC fights – and countless others before that — until his most recent February outing at UFC 284 in Perth.

“And Dad was still there in the crowd,” Crute explained for us this week. “But there were some things I felt I needed to face on my own, and I did that.

“But now he’s back.

“And my relationship with dad, it actually gets me emotional because that man, he gave everything to me.

“Gave everything so that I could do this.

“So to make that walk with him, to have him in my corner … at times I just need to look at him and I feel invincible.”

Back in February, Crute recovered from a slow start against American Alonzo Menifield to eventually secure a gutsy draw. The pair now rematch in Las Vegas with the Aussie ready to embark on an exciting new phase of his career.

Quizzed on what exactly he needed to face by himself when making that walk to the Octagon in Perth, Crute continued: “It’s not that I don’t want to explain what I’ve been through, but I just don’t have the words.

“The last two years, certain things have happened that I cannot really explain. But because of what I’ve faced to get back here, I now know that I definitely belong.”

Crute added that he loved having his father around in fight week, with the pair even sharing a room at the UFC fighter hotel.

“We don’t say much, that’s just how we are,” the Melburnian grinned.

“But he can give me a look that’s worth a thousand words.

“I know a lot of blokes will say this but I truly believe my dad is the greatest man who ever lived.”

5. Will Albo call for a public holiday if Australia goes four-zip?

Australian Paralympian Dylan Alcott was among the stars of this week’s UFC 290 press conference, asking if Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese should declare a public holiday Monday if all four Aussies fighting this weekend win.

While UFC president Dana White conceded Albo likely “doesn’t give a s … what I think”, an Aussie whitewash would undeniably rank among the great moments in the nation’s growing UFC story.

While five Australians were initially slated to fight on the International Fight Week Card, that number was reduced by one on Friday afternoon here in the States when Jack Della Maddalena’s fight was cancelled.

His rival, late call up Josiah Harrell, was withdrawn due to ‘medical issues’ after the weigh-ins.

According to the Las Vegas bookies, three of the four Australians fighting will start favourites, with both Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker as short as -400.

The only outsider is the first fighter to appear, Queenslander Shannon Ross. Local bookies have the flyweight at +125 against Jesus Aguilar (-145).

Elsewhere, Jimmy Crute finds himself in a pick ‘em fight for his rematch with Alonzo Menifield. Crute is -120 with Menifield, even money.

6. A UFC legend signs off

Aussie fight fans who’ve been around for longer than a minute will be looking forward, albeit sadly, to what is this last ever UFC appearance of genuine American hero Robbie Lawler.

Now aged 41, the former welterweight champ is not only a throwback to another era but a man CBS this week dubbed “on the shortlist of greatest action fighters in the sport’s history”. And now he gets one more chance at violence, artistry, all of it when he throws down with Niko Price in the featured preliminary bout. Elsewhere on a strong undercard, NCAA wrestling phenom Bo Nickal is being tipped to demolish late call up Val Woodburn. Despite having gone undefeated in all seven professional appearances – and been wonderfully dressed in a fluoro tracksuit at the UFC press conference – Woodburn is so unloved by bookies they have Nickal a -2500 favourite – the shortest odds in UFC history.