Australian star Alexander Volkanovski aims to secure a fifth successful defence of his featherweight title as he takes on Yair Rodriguez in the main event of UFC 290.
Volkanovski first won the title in December 2019 with a stunning victory over Max Holloway and has never looked back, defending it against Holloway twice, Brian Ortega and The Korean Zombie.
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 >
LIVE COVERAGE – FOLLOW UFC 290 HERE
START TIME — WHEN DO THE BIG FIGHTS START?
The Sydneysider came agonisingly close to securing champ-champ status when he took on lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in Perth, but fell agonisingly short in a unanimous decision loss.
On that same card, Rodriguez captured the interim featherweight title with a dominant submission win over Josh Emmett.
The unpredictable Mexican star is in his first UFC title bout having first joined the promotion in 2014 by winning The Ultimate Fighter.
Rodriguez has tasted defeat just twice in that time, once against UFC great Frankie Edgar due to a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss as well as a unanimous decision loss to Max Holloway.
But he has earned a reputation for bringing the action in every single fight he’s in and also holds the record for the latest finish in UFC history, knocking out The Korean Zombie at 4:59 in the fifth round in 2018.
Elsewhere on the card, Aussie star Robert Whittaker looks to earn another shot at UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya as he takes on Dricus Du Plessis.
Whittaker lost the middleweight title to Adesanya in 2019 before dropping the rematch last year in February.
However, the Aussie faces a tough task against Du Plessis who has 19 wins, 18 of them coming via KO/TKO or submission and is undefeated since joining the UFC in 2020.
‘I feed on the energy’ Whittaker back | 03:33
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WHAT TIME DOES IT START?
The coverage of UFC 290 begins with the prelims at 10am AEST, live on Kayo Sports.
The main card will kick off at 12pm AEST.
HOW DO I WATCH IT?
Aussie fight fans can tune into all the action from UFC 290 with Kayo Sports.
The prelims are free to watch for all Kayo users, while the main card is pay-per-view and can be ordered on Main Event or on Kayo Sports.
ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >
WHEN IS IT?
UFC 290 is on Sunday July 9 and takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Alexander Volkanovski
Record: 25-2 (12KO)
Weight: 144.5 pounds
Height: 168cm
Reach: 180cm
Yair Rodriguez
Record: 16-3-0, 1NC (5KO)
Weight: 145 pounds
Height: 180cm
Reach: 180cm
WHICH AUSSIES ARE IN ACTION?
There was initially set to be five Australian stars competing at UFC 290, but unfortunately it has dropped to four after Jack Della Maddalena’s opponent withdrew the day before the fight due to a brain condition.
However, there’s still plenty of fighters from Down Under flying the flag.
Shannon Ross kicks off the action for the Aussies on the early prelims against Jesus Aguilar, with Jimmy Crute the next Aussie in the cage as he takes on Alonzo Menifield in a rematch of their UFC 284 barnburner in Perth.
Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker takes on tough South African Dricus Du Plessis on the main card, with Alexander Volkanovski defending his featherweight title in the main event against Yair Rodriguez.
WHO IS THE BETTING FAVOURITE?
According to Sportsbet, Alexander Volkanovski is a $1.26 favourite to get the win with Yair Rodriguez a $3.90 outsider.
A Volkanovski win on points is also the favourite method at $2.35, although Sportsbet back Volkanovski to secure victory via KO/TKO at $2.90.
As for Rodriguez, his likeliest method of victory is via KO/TKO at $6.75
FULL UFC 290 CARD
MAIN CARD (from 12pm AEST)
Alexander Volkanovski (144.5) 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)*
Bo Nickal (186) vs. Val Woodburn (185.5)
PRELIMS (from 10am AEST)
Robbie Lawler (170.5) vs. Niko Price (171)
Edgar Chairez (129) vs. Tatsuro Taira (130) – 130-pound contract weight
Denise Gomes (115.5) vs. Yazmin Jauregui (115.5)
Jimmy Crute (205) vs. Alonzo Menifield (205.5)
EARLY PRELIMS
Vitor Petrino (206) vs. Marcin Prachnio (206)
Terrence Mitchell (135) vs. Cameron Saaiman (135)
Jesus Aguilar (126) vs. Shannon Ross (126)
Kamuela Kirk (155.5) vs. Esteban Ribovics (156)