UFC 290: Alexander Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez, latest news and how to watch

Alexander Volkanovski is bracing for his toughest UFC fight yet and has lured an 11-time world champion to prepare for a tactical battle against Yair Rodriguez. Find out how to watch here.

Alexander Volkanovski.

Alex Volkanovski is leaving nothing to chance ahead of what he describes as the most dangerous fight of his career against Yair Rodriguez, with the featherweight titleholder flying in an 11-time Taekwondo world champion to help him prepare.

Volkanovski will make the fifth defence of his 145-pound title against one of the division’s most unpredictable strikers in Rodriguez at UFC 290 in Las Vegas next month.

A lanky and experienced Mexican with a strong Taekwondo base, Rodriguez owns some of the most stunning highlight reel stoppages in the UFC, including a ridiculous last-second knockout of Jung Chan-sung in 2019.

Knowing the danger the interim featherweight champion Rodriguez poses, Volkanovski has recruited New Zealand Taekwondo legend Carl van Roon to assist in his training camp.

“He’s one of the most dangerous opponents I’ve had,” Volkanovski said of Rodriguez. “There’s so many things he can catch you off guard with.

“There’s a danger to it, and he’s the interim champion who’s beaten some of the top guys.”

Alex Volkanovski battles Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Van Roon runs a gym in Auckland, has worked closely alongside Israel Adesanya’s City Kickboxing Gym and has integrated his Taekwondo expertise into MMA.

As Volkanovski ramps up his preparations for Rodriguez, van Roon relocated to Australia for fight camp.

“You can imagine the problems you’re trying to solve sparring an 11-time world champion,” Volkanovski said after an intense training session on Thursday.

“It’s not just his Taekwondo either. He’s had MMA experience, so he understands the game.

“He’s very smart, he understands range, he knows what to do and what not to do at different times.

Alex Volkanovski rates Yair Rodriguez (black trunks) as the most dangerous opponent he has faced. Picture: Sam Ruttyn.

“He’s been studying Yair himself as well, so he’s really committed to the role. He’s done his research. I could have got training partners here (in Australia) who can throw those things, but they’re not going to be able to do it as good.

“They’re going to struggle. They won’t know when to do things, or how to set up traps. He can give me looks, different openings and do things that will keep me on my toes.”

In addition to his size and length, it’s Rodriguez’s sheer unpredictability that makes him such a dangerous opponent.

He’ll throw a spinning back kick out of nowhere, or launch into a flying knee without warning. But he’s also adept on the mat, winning the interim title with a triangle choke submission win over Josh Emmett in Perth in February.

Alexander Volkanovski is leaving no stone unturned before his next fight.

“They’re less telegraphic with their kicks,” Volkanovski’s coach, Joe Lopez told CODE. “The kicks come out of nowhere and they double them up.

“It’s not as powerful, but it’s a lot more unpredictable, which makes it very hard to prepare for.

“He throws what he shouldn’t be throwing. He should be trying to base, but he’ll throw a spinning kick. Or he’ll get off balance, and instead trying to rebalance, he’ll throw another technique.

“We need to stay focused, more so than for any of the others. With others, you might be able to take a little break, but with Yair, you’ve gotta be on alert the whole time.”

At 189cm tall, van Roon is slightly taller than Rodriguez, but is the same build and just as rangy.

He’ll fly to Las Vegas with Volkanovski for the fight, and says his main job isn’t trying to change the Australian’s fight style. Rather, he wants to ensure Volkanovski is completely at ease with whatever Rodriguez attempts to throw.

Yair Rodriguez sports a major bruise during a fight. Picture: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP.

“It’s about priming his martial arts immune system for the threat that’s about to come,” van Roon told CODE after wrapping up another session with the champ. “Then he can use his own natural responses.

“There’s no use in me trying to reinvent the wheel trying to change his style, but the interesting thing is that he integrates new information really fast, and he likes to play around with it. When he’s playful and expressive, that’s when he’s most dangerous.

“He just needs to match Yair’s vibration and energy, because if he just walks forward – which I know he won’t – Yair will eat him up.

“I’m confident Alex is going to pose a much more difficult puzzle than that, with many looks, feints and deceptions that will pose a real problem.”

Originally published as UFC 290: Alexander Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez, latest news and how to watch