Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski has declared himself ready to hold three UFC title belts by the first third of 2024 — while a dirty “dogfight” could cruel Robert Whittaker’s hopes of leading a proposed $300M UFC bonanza in just nine weeks.
Already two of Australia’s biggest fight stars, Volkanovski and Whittaker are set to create history in Las Vegas today when they throw down on a UFC 290 card that shapes as one of the most important events in the nation’s proud fight history.
More than defending his UFC featherweight title against Yair Rodriguez, Volkanovski says the International Fight Week headliner will springboard him into a series of huge UFC showdowns that, next up, must involve either a ‘champ champ’ rematch or BMF title fight.
Meanwhile, there were plenty of finishes in the earlier fights of the day with two Australians on the wrong end of brutal results while Robbie Lawler had a dream end to his career.
Follow LIVE updates below from the prelims at 10am AEST, and read on for the full card details!
UFC 290 | SUN JULY 9: It’s an Aussie Takeover in Vegas for one of biggest fights of the year. UFC Champ Alex Volkanovski takes on Yair Rodriguez and fan favourite Rob Whittaker returns to the Octagon. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >
‘I feed on the energy’ Whittaker back | 03:33
‘YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING’: LAWLER’S DREAM FINAL FIGHT
Robbie Lawler closed the curtain on his illustrious UFC career in style, destroying Niko Price in a brutal first-round knockout victory.
The 41-year-old was locked in from the opening bell, landing a two-punch combination to open the action before getting inside the clinch and flooring Price with a series of punches.
“Nothing was going right this training camp. Today was the first day I felt good,” Lawler said post-fight.
“I was landing some big shots in good places… it was too much.
“I was moving well and it’s nice to end my career like this. The fans and media have been great this week. Thanks for the years of support.”
Lawler finishes his MMA career with a 30-16 record (and one no contest), with the former welterweight champion boasting 22 wins by knockout — and he left his best for last.
It took just 38 seconds for Lawler to finish Price, with Daniel Cormier describing it as his “best performance in years”.
“What a way to go out,” Cormier said in commentary.
“He goes out with an absolutely gigantic win, a spectacular knockout.”
“Robbie Lawler with a stunner to put an ultimate capstone on his Hall of Fame career,” added Jon Anik.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
AUSSIE TOPPLED ‘OUT OF NOWHERE’ AS POST-FIGHT ACT RAISES EYEBROWS
Their last fight may have ended in a majority draw but there was no doubt this time around as Alonzo Menifield defeated Australian Jimmy Crute with a stunning second-round submission.
The victory was Menifield’s fifth in his past seven fights and sees the American improve his overall MMA record to 14-1-1, now unbeaten in four-straight bouts.
Crute, meanwhile, is once again left to consider what is next in a career that promised so much after the Australian stormed into UFC title contention after winning five of his first five fights.
The 27-year-old has since lost to Anthony Smith, Jamahal Hill and Menifield, casting doubt over his path back towards the top of the division.
The fight promised fireworks and delivered early, with Menifield landing a sharp right hand within the opening minute that briefly sent Crute to the canvas.
The Australian didn’t seem too fazed by it though, quickly getting back to his feet and that proved to be a recurring theme throughout the first round.
Menifield was landing the more damaging punches of the two but Crute was eating it all up,
including a series of shots up against the fence after he shot for a takedown and was stuffed.
To his credit, Crute did plenty of quality work in the clinch but the fight came to a sudden end midway through the second round as Menifield secured the submission.
On this occasion Menifield once again stuffed Crute’s takedown attempt before forcing him to tap with a tight guillotine.
In a stunning turn of events, Crute immediately took his gloves off and left them in the middle of the cage — seemingly hinting at his retirement.
The Australian’s coaches though made him later pick them back up, with Crute’s manager later confirming to foxsports.com.au that his fighter had not retired.
After the fight, Crute returned immediately to the New York New York casino where he is staying and was unavailable for comment.
Speaking to media in his post-fight press conference, Menifield said he was unsure if Crute was retiring in the moment but threw his support behind the 27-year-old regardless.
“Jimmy Crute is young,” the American said.
“When you fall down, I just want him to know, you get back up. We’ve all been there as fighters and people in life. For him it’s like, ‘Keep going man, you’re young as s***’. I don’t know if he was thinking about retiring but dude, you’re young. Keep going.”
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT FINISH AS UNDERDOG SCORES 20-SECOND KO
The stunning finishes continued in women’s strawweight action soon after as Denise Gomes secured a TKO victory in just 20 seconds against Yazmin Jauregui.
Jauregui was the considerable favourite but being the underdog has never proven an issue for Gomes throughout her career, with the Brazilian making an epic statement on Sunday.
Jauregui boasted a perfect 10-0 record before running into Gomes, who landed a huge right hand to drop her rival and the 23-year-old capitalised immediately.
It was simply a matter of when the referee would call an end to the contest as Gomes punched away at Jauregui on the ground, with the fight stopped after only 20 seconds in the end.
“What a perfect right hand, right on the jaw,” Joe Rogan said in commentary.
“Picture perfect.”
INCREDIBLE ‘ONE-SHOT STUNNER’ CRUSHES AUSTRALIAN ROSS
Mexican flyweight Jesus Aguilar has stunned the UFC world with the second-fastest finish in division history, knocking out Australian opponent Shannon Ross in only 17 seconds.
The 27-year-old threw a huge overhand right, connecting with Ross’ face who immediately went down and struck the canvas.
Aguilar’s knockout is second to only Dustin Ortiz, who knocked out Hector Sandoval in only 15 seconds in 2017.
“One of the bigger knockouts of the year, a one shot stunner,” commentator Jon Anik screamed.
Ross was left on the canvas for several minutes before recovering on a stool for another lengthy period of time – but was even willing to watch replays of his knockout before he left the octagon.
Aguilar, who is predominantly a submission specialist, has now responded in a big way after going down in his debut fight to Japan’s Tatsuro Taira in February.
Now the Mexican’s professional record sits at 9-2, having recorded a victory in his second time to step foot in the octagon.
He called it the “best moment of my life”.
‘One of the knock outs of the year!’ | 00:17
CRUSHING WIN FROM RISING SUPERSTAR
South African bantamweight Cameron Saaiman has once again recorded a win, beating Terrence Mitchell inside the first round.
Just after the three minute mark Saaiman took a dominant position on his opponent’s back and pounded his rival with shots to the head before the referee stopped the fight.
“Too easy for Cameron Saaiman tonight, he improves to 9-0 as he stops Terrence Mitchell in Round 1,” Jon Anik said.
“He did what he had to do,” Joe Rogan said.
The 22-year-old now holds a 9-0 professional record and will be looking for a bigger fight in his next UFC appearance.
MORE COVERAGE
‘He’s f***ing great’: Volk rival’s surprise praise as Aussie vows to ‘squash’ UFC star in title bout
Aussie star out of UFC 290 after US rival withdraws with shock brain diagnosis
‘Guy is a weapon’: Legend rates fight star arguably Australia’s greatest current athlete
HOW TO WATCH
The UFC 290 prelims will kick off at 10am AEST, with coverage available on Kayo Sports.
As for the main card, that will commence at 12pm AEST and can be ordered on Main Event on Foxtel or Kayo Sports.
FULL UFC 290 CARD + RESULTS
MAIN CARD (from 12pm AEST)
Alexander Volkanovski (144.5 pounds) vs. Yair Rodriguez (145) – for featherweight title
Champ Brandon Moreno (125) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (125) – for flyweight title
Dricus Du Plessis (186) vs. Robert Whittaker (185.5)
Dan Hooker (155.5) vs. Jalin Turner (158, missed weight)
Bo Nickal (186) vs. Val Woodburn (185.5)
PRELIMS (from 10am AEST)
Robbie Lawler (170.5) def. Niko Price (171) by R1 KO
Edgar Chairez (129) def. Tatsuro Taira (130) by UD (29-27 x3)
Denise Gomes (115.5) def. Yazmin Jauregui (115.5) by R1 TKO
Alonzo Menifield (205.5) def. Jimmy Crute (205) by R2 submission
EARLY PRELIMS
Vitor Petrino (206) def. Marcin Prachnio (206) by R3 submission
Cameron Saaiman (135) def. Terrence Mitchell (135) by R1 TKO
Jesus Aguilar (126) def. Shannon Ross (126) by R1 KO
Kamuela Kirk (155.5) def. Esteban Ribovics (156) by UD (29-28 x3)
ULTIMATE GUIDE — EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
STATE TIME — WHEN DO THE BIG FIGHTS START?
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‘Fly Aussie flag’ Giddey at UFC 290 | 02:42
PREVIEW: VOLK EYES MORE BELTS, WHITTAKER READY FOR ‘DIRTY’ FIGHT
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on fight eve, 34-year-old Volkanovski revealed Rodriguez would be his last fight at featherweight for the short term – with his eyes set on either UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev or the ‘Baddest Mother F … er’ title.
The latter of those is set to be decided later this month at UFC 291, in a showdown between lightweight stars Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
Ideally, Volkanovski can see a future where he becomes the first fighter in history to hold all three belts simultaneously.
Whittaker, meanwhile, has been pitched into a middleweight title eliminator that will send either himself or South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis on to face the division’s No. 1 — UFC megastar Israel Adesanya.
Ideally, UFC boss Dana White wants that fight to take place in Sydney, with NSW premier Chris Minns having recently signed off on a historic deal to have three major UFC events in Sydney over the next four years.
The Minns Government has pledged $16 million from Destination NSW’s newly created Significant Event Fund, with the State budgeting to reap up to $300 million in return.
However, with Volkanovski’s team having already declared the champ wants nothing before a potential showdown with Makhachev in October, there is a huge push to have Bobby Knuckles headlining in his own backyard.
However, to do that, he must not only beat Du Plessis, but win unscathed against a rival he is expecting to fight “dirty”.
‘I’m too much for him’ Volk mindset | 02:50
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on fight eve, Whittaker confirmed he definitely wants to be part of the Sydney card on September 10, but added he was preparing for a Du Plessis “dogfight”.
Asked to explain, he said: “I want to dictate this fight, keep things at my pace, keep it at my distance, do whatever I want.
“But it becomes a dogfight when he’s crowding me.
“When he’s bullrushing me, not giving me space, not giving me room, muddying up the take-downs – whether he’s successful or not … that’s a dogfight.
“It’s (Du Plessis) making things gritty. Dirty.
“And to counter that, I’ve been training for a dogfight myself.
“I’ve been training to do that.
“To crowd him, take him down, muddy it up. Give him no space.”
Whittaker also said he was determined to show Du Plessis, who is undefeated in all five UFC appearances, more respect than previous rivals.
“And don’t get me wrong, I believe I’m 100 per cent better than him,” the Aussie continued.
“But I understand fights aren’t won on paper.
“I’m human, he’s human and we’re both out there throwing.
“In the past, people have disrespected his ability and underestimated what he can do.
“And to show for it, they lost.
“But there was a time when I was that underdog.
“I was the guy who was supposed to get washed.
“And that’s why I understand the danger that he brings.
“Because I toppled titans like that.”
ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >
‘Volk one of Australia’s best athletes’ | 13:32
Volkanovski, meanwhile, said while he respects Rodriguez – and has even labelled him his most dangerous opponent – he also knows a win brings new challenges for new belts, even if it has to be the BMF variety.
Volkanovski said chasing BMF gold would also bring real legitimacy to a strap first created by UFC executives in 2019 — for a fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz at UFC 244
“Obviously I want the rematch with Islam Makhachev,” Volkanovski said of the champ who beat him in a massive headliner at UFC 284 back in February.
“But what if I can’t get it?
“Then I want the BMF belt. I want to up and fight whichever lightweight holds it.
“And I know a lot of people look at that title like ‘this is for the people who can’t win a UFC title, so they go after the BMF belt’.
“But to be where I am, right up there in the pound for pound talks, and wanting to go after it too … that gives the strap real legitimacy.
“The champ wants a piece of this.
“I think that gives it real legitimacy.”
‘Going to squash him’ Volk weighs in | 03:01
Volkanovski also described as “nuts” a fight week build up that has seen has image splashed across Las Vegas billboards, neon signs, advertising trucks, even those monthly ‘What’s On’ magazines that sit on the bedside of every Las Vegas hotel room.
The Aussie has also been inundated with media requests that on one day alone this week saw him spend up to six hours at the UFC Apex Centre conducting interviews.
Volkanovski has risen up to become the undeniable face of an Anzac fighting explosion in the UFC – which for this card alone includes himself, Whittaker, Jimmy Crute, Shannon Ross and New Zealander, Dan Hooker.
Reigning UFC Rookie of the Year Jack Della Maddalena was also supposed to fight, but was cancelled after the late withdrawal of his rival Josiah Harrell, whose pre-fight MRI scans detected a rare brain condition.
Volk one win away from GOAT status? | 01:25
“This is the craziest it’s ever been,” Volkanovski said of the hype around his headliner.
“Things have been crazy for me before, but this time around — nuts.
“And not just for myself either, but all the Australians.
“It’s International Fight week and we’ve got five Anzacs on this card, which just shows how big our region is now.
“And being part of it, the face of it – whatever you want to call it – it’s cool.”