UFC 290: Five Australians and one New Zealander feature in the Las Vegas Octagon

There is a distinctly down-under flavour to UFC 290 with the Las Vegas card featuring no less than five Australians and a Kiwi over the weekend.

Jack Della Maddalena, Dan Hooker, Alexander Volkanovski, Robert Whittaker, Shannon Ross and Jimmy Crute pose in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign during UFC International Fight Week. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas.

Or, to be more accurate, for this week at least, “G’day, from Vegas,” because this week’s UFC 290 blockbuster in the fight capital of the world has a distinctly Aussie flavour.

Five Australians and a Kiwi are set to step into the Octagon for this weekend’s pay-per-view card, with Alex Volkanovski defending his featherweight title in a headline fight with Yair Rodriguez.

Former middleweight champion Rob Whittaker is looking to earn a third bout with Israel Adesanya when he fights South African Dricus du Plessis.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Crute will rematch Alonzo Menifield, Jack Della Maddalena has a late-notice change of opponent, Shannon Ross will have his second UFC fight, and New Zealand’s Dan Hooker takes on Jalin Turner in what has fight of the night written all over it.

All six fighters who comprise this week’s Aussie and Kiwi takeover kicked off fight week with a photo shoot at the world famous ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign in scorching temperatures that hit 43 degrees in the late afternoon sun.

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 >

The motley crew of fighters, trainers and managers took over the popular photo spot, mingling with tourists, autograph hunters who’d trailed them the three kilometres from downtown, and even a wedding party.

“Sometimes you’ve gotta be a tourist. I’ve been to Las Vegas so many times, but I’ve never actually been to see the sign,” Volkanovski told this masthead.

“It’s pretty cool we’re all over here on this massive card. It’s always a huge event every year, and to have an unofficial takeover from our side of the world is pretty cool.

“It’s massive for Australia and New Zealand.”

The photo op almost didn’t happen for Della Maddalena.

The welterweight prospect’s original opponent, Sean Brady, pulled out just a few days ago with a bad staph infection in his elbow.

Della Maddalena, who has won three Performance of the Night bonuses in his last three fights and has never been taken out of the first round, put the call out to anyone in the welterweight or middleweight divisions to step in on late notice.

Alex Volkanovski is defending his featherweight title in a headline fight with Yair Rodriguez. Picture: Simon Bullard

Already one of the most avoided fighters at 170-pounds, it’s tough enough getting ‘Giacomo’ fights at the best of times, let alone on just 10 days’ notice, so there weren’t many takers.

When the UFC sent through a shortlist of names, he said yes to all of them without even clicking on their links to check their records.

“I’ve come a long way to not even have a fight,” the 14-2 scrapper told this masthead under the shadow of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign on Monday afternoon (Vegas time).

“I was just ready for whoever, man. The UFC were really good, they said they’d get me a fight at either welterweight or middleweight, or they’d sign someone new.

“That’s what they ended up doing.”

That unknown fighter, who will have his Rocky Balboa moment this weekend, is Josiah ‘Muscle Hamster’ Harrell, a 7-0 training partner of UFC veteran Matt Brown. Della had never heard of him, but it didn’t take much searching to uncover footage of Harrell.

Last month, video of Harrell tackling his opponent straight through the cage door went viral on social media.

That doesn’t mean anything for Della Maddalena though, who wants to finish this one quickly before turning around and facing Brady in Sydney at UFC 293 in September.

“He’s 7-0, undefeated, so I’m gonna hand him his first defeat.

“I’ve just gotta keep range. Sean Brady is a short guy, avoid the grapple if I can, and try and sting him. It’s a similar game plan to Brady.

“I’m just glad I’ve got an opponent, and I’m planning for a fourth bonus in a row.”

Originally published as UFC 290: Five Australians and one New Zealander feature in the Las Vegas Octagon