UFC 290: Alex Volkanovski TKOs Yair Rodriguez to defend featherweight crown
Alex Volkanovski received the ultimate praise from UFC president Dana White after cementing his spot as the greatest featherweight of all time. Re-live the card.
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An American president sat cageside near a stunt man, before taking photos with a bleach-blonde celebrity chef and a controversial comedian at UFC 290 in Las Vegas.
Just another normal day in Sin City.
Donald Trump stopped the show when he arrived at T-Mobile Arena, walking side-by-side with his mate Dana White before taking his seat near Jackass star Johnny Knoxville. The sold out crowd went wild as he took photos with Israel Adesanya, chef Guy Fieri and comedian Theo Von.
And somehow, none of that was as shocking as the action that took place in the cage.
Alex Volkanovski confirmed his status as the best featherweight ever with a third round TKO win over Yair Rodriguez.
Volkanovski exchanges words with Ilia Topuria after our #UFC290 main event! 👀 pic.twitter.com/JNmoRJlm8c
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2023
Proving once again that he’s the most well-rounded fighter on the planet, Volkanovski got the better of the striking duel with the dangerous taekwondo fighter Rodriguez. The Wollongong fighter has now out-wrestled Chad Mendes, escaped submission attempts from Jiu Jitsu great Brian Ortega, out-struck kickboxer Max Holloway and wasn’t out of place wrestling Islam Makhachev.
“Systematically I broke him (Rodriguez) down, I took away a lot of his main tools,” Volkanovski said. “He was always going to be creative, so that’s why he was always going to be dangerous, but I was able to nullify all of his main tools.
“Those things he’s usually able to do, he wasn’t able to do them with me, and I was able to capitalise on that.”
The 34-year-old will now lobby for another lightweight title fight against Makhachev later in the year after having surgery on his arm. The featherweight champion needs an operation on his elbow to clear out a chipped bone that means he can’t extend his left arm fully.
Still, he’s so dominant a champion, and sells so many pay per views in Australia, that White will essentially allow him to call his own shots.
Just ran him over there at the end. https://t.co/GJYe4BHFj6
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) July 9, 2023
“The guy is an absolute freak,” the UFC president said.
“He’s at one of those places, whatever he wants to do, what are we gonna say? He’s proved himself a million times.
“Whatever he wants to do, we’ll probably roll with it.”
For the rest of the Australian contingent, the presidential sideshow was something of a welcome distraction in what was shaping as a truly disastrous night until Volkanovski’s win.
Robert Whittaker was knocked out by Dricus du Plessis in the second round, seeing his hopes for a third fight with Adesanya go up in smoke.
Instead, that title shot will now go to South African du Plessis.
UFC 293 in Sydney is just nine weeks away, and there were hopes the winner of the Whittaker-Du Plessis bout would fight Adesanya. Oddsmakers and most pundits predicted that man would be Whittaker, but it’s now unclear whether du Plessis will turn around and fight for the title on such short notice.
The 29-year-old from Pretoria, who spent the morning of the fight watching the Springboks steamroll the Wallabies, wouldn’t be drawn into talking about fighting in Sydney.
Meanwhile, the future remains unclear for Whittaker, who until the weekend had only ever been beaten by Adesanya.
Excluding du Plessis, the biggest winner is Adesanya, who didn’t want a third fight with Whittaker, having beaten him twice already. Stylebender wasted no time getting the promotional antics rolling, entering the Octagon and letting loose on du Plessis with an n-word-laden tirade.
“It’s usually the contender that goes into the cage. Even he sees me as the champion,” du Plessis said. “He knows what a force I am in there. He could feel how insignificant he was to me in that cage.”
Earlier in the night, Jimmy Crute suffered a second round submission defeat and appeared to – momentarily at least – retire. He ripped off his gloves and left them in the middle of the cage, which is normally a sign of retirement, but picked them back up before exiting the Octagon.
In the second fight of the night, Shannon Ross was knocked unconscious after just 17 seconds.
There was chaos and madness in every direction elsewhere on the card, with surreal scenes of Trump watching Kiwi lightweight Dan Hooker win a decision against Jalin Turner despite breaking his wrist.
Hooker posted the x-ray of his broken wrist to Instagram with the caption: “just a scratch.”
1.43PM: ADESANYA’S UGLY N-WORD SPRAY
Australia’s UFC 290 nightmare continues after Rob Whittaker was knocked out in the second round by Dricus du Plessis.
A bloodied Whittaker was caught by a big right hand with just under three minutes remaining in the round.
His knees buckled, and du Plessis pounced, finishing the fight two minutes, 23 seconds into the round.
The shocking result leaves Whittaker’s hopes of a third title fight with champion Israel Adesanya - who was sitting in the front row - in tatters.
Instead, that shot will go to the South African du Plessis, and will likely be made for UFC 293 in Sydney on September 10.
As du Plessis spoke to Joe Rogan in the Octagon, Adesanya entered the cage.
The pair faced-off in intense, borderline ugly, scenes.
“Wassup, bitch? Wassup, my African brother, you bitch,” Adesanya said, before unleashing a tirade, including several n-bombs.
Du Plessis hit back: “I’m African, but I ain’t no brother of yours.”
The South African, who is on a six-fight win-streak in the UFC had nothing but praise for former champion Whittaker.
“Robert Whittaker has heart and he’s a legend. This is truly the biggest honour of my life,” he said. “Being in here against a legend, a guy I had a poster of up in my room and wanted to be like one day.
“I don’t know where he is, but he’s a humble man and truly a legend of this sport.”
Du Plessis becomes just the second fighter in the UFC middleweight division to ever beat Whittaker, after Adesanya defeated him twice.
After looking good in the opening striking exchanges, Whittaker landed a takedown two minutes in, but couldn’t do anything with it.
Du Plessis stuck a takedown of his own with 45 seconds left in the first and ended the round on top.
A weary looking Whittaker had blood pouring down his face as he walked back to the stool.
Du Plessis continued to throw with maximum power in the second. Whittaker had his timing and distance dialled in for the most part, but du Plessis was dangerously explosive.
It was that explosiveness that spelled the beginning of the end.
The Aussie was stunned by a right hand, with just under three minutes left in the second, sending Whittaker buckling at the knees.
The fight was over half a minute later.
Whittaker’s loss follows defeats to fellow Australians Shannon Ross and Jimmy Crute earlier in the day.
1:05PM: ‘JUST A SCRATCH’
Tough times don’t last, Dan Hooker does.
After a horrendous two years full of injuries and defeats, The Hangman wound back the clock with a vintage performance, beating the highly fancied Jalin Turner by split decision.
Hooker was rattled and cut early on, with his peroxide blonde hair turning pink.
At some point in the bout, he also appeared to badly injure his wrist.
“Just a scratch” he explained.
Still, he was taken straight to hospital for scans on his right wrist.
The win is Hooker’s second in succession and should propel him back into the lightweight mix.
12.26PM: TRUMP
The Donald is in the building.
There had been whispers all week about a possible appearance, but it wasn’t until he popped up on the big screen alongside Dana White and a phalanx of secret service agents that former American president Donald Trump’s attendance was confirmed.
Trump and White are long-time friends, going back to when the UFC president staged fight cards at the property mogul’s casinos in the 2000s. White even gave a speech at the Republican National Convention when Trump was running for president in 2016.
Trump arrived at T-Mobile Arena moments after Robbie Lawler knocked out Niko Price in his last fight before retirement.
Donald Trump just arrived. #ufc290pic.twitter.com/XBBNcNRo13
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) July 9, 2023
The 45th president of the USA entered the arena to huge cheers before taking a cageside seat next to White.
Israel Adesanya was the first of many VIPs to get a pic with the former prez.
So did Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer, referee Herb Dean and comedian Theo Vonn.
Also in attendance at the sold out arena were Johnny Knoxville, David Spade and Guy Fieri
Trump has attended several UFC events in recent years, most recently with White and Kid Rock at UFC 287 in Florida in April. He also attended Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier’s trilogy fight at UFC 264, but wasn’t shown on the big screen that day.
He was greeted with fireworks in the first bout he saw, with Bo Nickal ruthlessly knocking out debutant Val Woodburn in 38 seconds of the first round.
11.54AM: ROBBIE LAWLER’S FAIRYTALE FINISH
Robbie Lawler enjoyed a fairytale finish to his Hall of Fame UFC career, knocking out Niko Price just 38 seconds into the first round.
The former welterweight champion, who has fought some of the most exciting, bloody and savage battles in UFC history, will retire after this weekend.
The 41-year-old landed a series of left hands to Price’s head in a clinch in the opening 30 seconds.
A quick combo to the chin and head sent Price collapsing to the floor, and Lawler didn’t need to follow up. Price was out.
After completing a celebratory lap of the Octagon, the normally unflappable Lawler got down one knee, buried his face in his hands and didn’t move for 30 seconds.
The emotion of the moment getting to him, the first person to congratulate Lawler was legendary Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer. The pair shared an embrace before the fight was made official.
“It was good, just an ending of the career,” Lawler said. “I was landing some good shots in good places, temple, chin.
“It’s too much.”
The jam-packed crowd at T-Mobile Arena drowned out parts of his the post-fight interview chanting Lawler’s name.
The win caps off one of the greatest careers in UFC history. Lawler’s epics against Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit’s are all-time great fights, with ‘Ruthless’ going out with a 29-16 record.
CRUTE IN RETIREMENT CONFUSION AFTER SUBMISSION DEFEAT
The Australian contingent at UFC 290 has gone 0-2 after Jimmy Crute was forced to tap out in the second round of his rematch with Alonzo Menifield.
With Menifield using his power and hand speed to control the action, Crute attempted a second-round single leg takedown, wanting to get the fight to the mat, where he’s more comfortable.
Menifield pounced, though, locking in a guillotine which finished the fight.
Crute immediately tore the red tape off his wrists, ripped off his gloves and dropped them in the middle of the Octagon. Normally a signal of retirement, Crute then kneeled in front of them and bowed.
Clearly distraught, Crute sat on a stool by the side of the cage before a member of his corner said something in his ear.
The 27-year-old then stood up, walked over and collected his discarded gloves from the mat.
It’s unclear at this time whether Crute will retire or not, although Menifield said he hopes he continues.
“Jimmy Crute’s young. When you fall down, I want him to know you get back up,” he said at his post-fight press conference. “We’ve all been there as fighters, and as people.
“For him, it’s like, keep going, you’re young as shit. I don’t know if he was thinking about retiring, but you’re young, keep going.”
The fight was a rematch of Crute and Menifield’s draw at UFC 284 in Perth in February. Menifield rattled Crute early on, but was docked a point for holding the cage later in the bout.
The result leaves Crute with a 4-4-1 UFC record, with his last win coming in October 2019.
AUSSIE MOTIONLESS AFTER SICKENING 17 SECOND KO
Shannon Ross has been knocked out in scary fashion just 17 seconds into his bout with Jesus Aguilar.
In their first serious exchange of the bout, Aguilar connected with a monstrous overhand right which connected with the side of Gold Coast fighter’s chin.
THAT REALLY JUST HAPPENED
— UFC (@ufc) July 8, 2023
KOs don't get cleaner than what Jesus Aguilar just did! #UFC290pic.twitter.com/K3cswO5F2v
Ross was KO’d immediately, landing with a sickening thud against the canvas.
He remained motionless for the better part of two minutes before finally waking up.
He was able to rise to his feet as Bruce Buffer confirmed the result and left the cage on his own volition.
Despite the bad knockout, Ross didn’t need to be transported to hospital afterwards.
It’s the second straight first round knockout Ross has suffered after he was KO’d early on by Kleydson Rodrigues at UFC 284 in February.
Ross had been on a comeback mission in Las Vegas this weekend after being hospitalised following his Dana White’s Contender Series loss to Vinicius Salvador last year.
Ross fought with a burst appendix, and despite being stopped in the second round, displayed enough heart that White offered him a UFC contract.
This loss was the second of his four-fight deal.
Earlier, the card got off to an electric start with Esteban Ribovics claiming a bloody, brutal unanimous decision victory over Kamuela Kirk.
FASTEST KO IN STRAWWEIGHT HISTORY
Blink and you’d have missed Denise Gomes’ savage beating of Yazmin Jauregui.
Gomes rattled Jauregui badly just five seconds into their strawweight showdown, and the fight could have been stopped immediately.
Jauregui managed to survive, and even attempted to defend herself.
But Gomes didn’t relent, forcing the action to be stopped just 20 seconds.
The fastest finish in strawweight HISTORY
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2023
Denise Gomes just made a statement at #UFC290! pic.twitter.com/OW6u14pkKv
UFC 290 RESULTS:
Prelims -
Tatsuro Taira def Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision
Denise Gomes def Yazmin Jauregui via Rd1 TKO
Alonzo Menifield def Jimmy Crute via Rd2 sub (guillotine)
Early prelims -
Vitor Patrino def Marcin Prachinho via Rd3 sub (head and arm choke)
Cameron Saaiman def Terrence Mitchel via Rd1 TKO
Jesus Aguilar def Shannon Ross via Rd1 KO
Estaban Ribovics def Kamuela Kirk via unanimous decision
UFC GREAT’S SHOCK KNOCKOUT PREDICTION FOR AUSSIE FAVOURITE
One of the sport’s biggest stars, Israel Adesanya, has made a bold prediction, tipping Dricus du Plessis to score a shock upset over Rob Whittaker.
With just hours to go until the fights kick off, Whittaker remains a big betting favourite against du Plessis, with the winner set to be in the box seat for a title fight with Adesanya at UFC 293 in Sydney in nine weeks.
Adesanya has beaten Whittaker twice in the two title fights they’ve had, while du Plessis has been agitating for a shot at the belt all year.
Adesanya is in Las Vegas for the fights, and went against the grain when asked his prediction for the Whittaker-du Plessis showdown.
“If I’m a betting man, it’s probably not who I put my money on, but I am a betting man, and I’m betting more than money,” he said in an interview with the UFC.
“Dricus first round knockout.”
Adesanya backed “inspirational” Volkanovski to bounce back following his controversial lightweight title fight defeat to Islam Makhachev in February, while Kiwi Dan Hooker has a tough fight with Jalin Turner.
Turner has made a habit of beating Australians and New Zealanders, with Cal Potter, Josh Culibao, Jamie Mullarkey and Brad Riddell all on his resume.
Enjoying fight week after a complete mental and physical reset, Jimmy Crute rematches Alonzo Menifield, while Shannon Ross is looking for his first win in the UFC.
There was heartbreak for rising welterweight star Jack Della Maddalena though, with his opponent, Josiah ‘Muscle Hamster’ Harrell pulling out following the weigh-ins. Routine fight week medical scans found Harrell has a rare brain disease called moyamoya, which could have been disastrous had he been allowed to fight.
Follow all the action live from T-Mobile Arena right here.
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Originally published as UFC 290: Alex Volkanovski TKOs Yair Rodriguez to defend featherweight crown
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