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Alexander Volkanovski proves why he’s the UFC GOAT with masterclass display

Australian megastar Alexander Volkanovski proved once again why he’s the most dangerous man on the planet with a hellacious display.

7 min read
July 9, 2023 - 4:15PM
A 'one shot stunner' left a rival asleep.
A 'one shot stunner' left a rival asleep.

UFC fans were just treated to arguably the greatest main event card in the history of the sport inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Each and every fight on the card delivered a gold standard display with none bigger than Aussie featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski.

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 >

Volkanovski dismantled his title challenger, solidifying his place as the number one pound for pound MMA fighter on the planet.

Things didn’t go the same way for fellow Aussie Robert Whittaker who had his dreams of an Israel Adesanya rematch crushed by South African Dricus Du Plessis.

Recap the entire card’s action below.

2.50pm - ‘GOAT’: Volkanovski makes UFC history

Australian superstar Alexander Volkanovski returned to the featherweight division and defended his title in hellacious fashion.

Many believed Yair Rodriguez’s length would post a problem for Volkanovski but from the opening bell until the stoppage in the third round it was one-way traffic.

The Aussie dominated his rival by taking him to the canvas over and over again before he finished the bout with one monstrous right hand.

Rodriguez had the upper hand in the third round before he got caught by a counter right hand that wobbled him and Volkanovski pounced.

He rushed in and push him up against the cage. landing a shot to the body before he picked up Rodriguez and dumped him onto the canvas and unleashed heavy ground and pound. Herb Dean was forced to step in and stop the onslaught, having Volkanovski his eighth title fight win in the division ... drawing level with Jose Aldo’s all-time record.

“He is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world hands down,” Daniel Cormier said post-fight.

Jon Anik, meanwhile, described it as a “masterclass”.

Volk is an unstoppable featherweight force. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Volk is an unstoppable featherweight force. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Volk vs Yair: Round by round breakdown

Round 1: The champion Volkanovski imposed his will in the opening five minutes by taking Rodriguez down three times. An elbow from the bottom by Rodriguez opened up a cut on the yeebrow line of the Aussie. 10-9 Volkanovski.

Round 2: Volkanovski continued his ground dominance in the second round after the two fighters traded heavy shots on their feet.

The champ opened up a nasty cut on the left eye of Rodriguez as the bloody poured out. 20-18 Volkanovski.

Round 3: Rodriguez finally came alive and found his range as he landed several telling shots on the featherweight champ. Volkanovski barely flinched as he acknowledged the shots before walking back at his rival. The interim champ had the better of the action but one right hand from Volkanovski changed it all.

The counter right hand wobbled Rodriguez and the Aussie didn't hesitate as he threw his opponent to the canvas before unleashing hell from above forcing Herb Dean to step in and wave it off.

2.25pm - Title fight descends into all out war

Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja just gave UFC fans an utterly absurd 25-minute fight.

The fight for the flyweight title went the distance with Pantoja stunning the crowd by knocking down the champ Moreno in the opening round.

Moreno fought back in the second round as he picked his rival apart behind his left hand, but the momentum of the bout swung back and forth as both men threw everything they had at each other.

The fight went into the hands of the judges who handed it to Pantoja via split decision (46-49, 48-47 x2).

As the result was read out the Las Vegas crowd erupted into a chorus of boos as Pantoja fell to the canvas as the emotion came pouring out.

Fans couldn’t believe one judge had scored the fight four rounds to one in favour of Moreno.

Greg Savage wrote: “I really like Ben Cartlidge but damn, there is no way I can see 4 rounds for Moreno. Not in any universe. He’ll, I have a hard time seeing more rhan 2. I had it 49-46 for Pantoja.”

UFC legend Michael Bisping wrote: “Which judge scored it 49-49 Moreno? I love Moreno. Incredible fighter but that judge give your head a wobble.”

1.30pm - ‘Madness’: Aussie star mercilessly crushed

Australian Robert Whittaker wanted a shot to regain his title, but his dream was all but crushed on Sunday.

Whittaker entered his UFC 290 fight as the favourite but Dricus Du Plessis had other ideas and stunned the UFC.

Du Plessis rocked Whittaker late in the opening round before reigning down a barrage of blows in the second to end the contest.

A monster right hand straight down the middle stumbled the Aussie and the South African star took advantage, landing shot after shot before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.

Du Plessis crushed Rob’s dreams. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP
Du Plessis crushed Rob’s dreams. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP

“This is absolutely huge,” Daniel Cormier said in commentary.

“Can you believe it?” Jon Anik said in commentary.

“This guy is a tank,” added Joe Rogan.

“He is a really dangerous guy. To do that against a guy like Whittaker is a real wake-up call for the rest of the division.”

Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya entered the cage and confronted his rival, bombaring Du Plessis with expletives.

The two look set to lock horns for the title when the UFC heads Down Under to Sydney later in the year.

12.30pm — ‘This is insane’: Fight of the night locked in

Dan Hooker and Jalin Turner have just delivered an absolute war inside the cage, leaving fight fans in utter disbelief.

After a solid opening round between the pair, it was the second round when things exploded.

Turner delivered a flush left high kick that landed clean on the jaw of Hooker, but the Kiwi star ate the shot.

He then took control of the fight as he unleashed a barrage of shots on Turner and locked in a rear-naked choke.

If there was another five to ten seconds on the clock, Turner was gone but the bell saved him and pushed the ifght into the third and final round.

Hooker claimed the victory in a split decision call, 29-28 x2, 28-29.

12pm — Electric start to UFC 290 main card

For the fourth time in nine fights, a bout has come to an end inside the opening minute.

Bo Nickal needed only 38 seconds to end the fight against Val Woodburn after landing multiple bombs with his left and right hands.

The first right hand wobbled Woodburn before Nickal’s picked him apart and sent him sprawling to the canvas with several hellacious shots.

Aussie pulverised in record 17-second KO

Queenslander Shannon Ross was the unfortunate victim of one of the most brutal knockout strikes in recent memory when he was put to sleep by Jesus Aguilar just 17 seconds into their scrap.

It was the second quickest KO finish ever seen in the flyweight division.

It was all over when Aguilar landed an overhand right, sending the Gold Coast product collapsing to the floor. He was clearly out cold before he even hit the canvas.

Ross was out before he hit the floor.
Ross was out before he hit the floor.

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.

The shot was so crisp that Aguilar elected not to go and land further strikes as Ross was lying on the ground, despite the referee being dangerously slow to step in and end the contest.

It was a scary moment as Ross appeared in distress while lying on the floor for several minutes, but he was able to get to his feet and was able to sit up on his stool and was eventually able to walk out of the Octagon.

‘Ruthless’ goes out with fairy-tale KO

Robbie Lawler has walked into retirement with a 38-second knockout win over Niko Price in a result that blew the roof off the T-Mobile Arena.

The 41-year-old finished his career with his seventh knockout win in the UFC in a perfect result after a career that spanned two decades.

The former welterweight champion was visibly emotional as it sunk in after the contest was stopped. The crowd was chanting his name as he took a knee inside the Octagon for the final time.

The result left the ESPN commentary blown away.

“What a way to go. There are no fairytales in fighting. Robbie Lawler just did it,” Daniel Cormier said.

“He is a guy that doesn’t usually show anything, so to see him take a knee and the emotion that just comes across his body right now, it’s insane.”

Ruthless Robbie Lawler goes out in style. Photo: UFC via Main Event.
Ruthless Robbie Lawler goes out in style. Photo: UFC via Main Event.

The fight world erupted in congratulatory messages.

Stephen Thompson posted on Twitter: “OH MY GOODNES!!!! LET’S GOOOO ROBBIE! TAKE IT ALL IN MY FRIEND.”

Michael Chiesa wrote: “It just got dusty inside of T-Mobile arena. What an amazing ending to such a storied career. Congrats @Ruthless_RL and thank you for the amazing fights.”

Dustin Poirier wrote: “Wow! The Ruthless one!”.

Aussie star appears to retire after tough loss

Jimmy Crute was an absolutely devastated figure after his brutal loss at the hands of Alonso Menifield.

The Aussie was trapped in a guillotine hold in the second round after attempting a take down and was eventually forced to tap out.

It was a difficult loss for Crute, whose career is at a crossroads after a run of three defeats and one draw from his past four fights.

The 27-year-old even made a display that his career may already be over in the seconds that followed his tap-out.

The emotionally crushed fighter removed his gloves after the fight and placed them at the center of the Octagon, which typically signifies that a fighter is retiring. But his cornermen immediately picked up the gloves.

He also kneeled in front of the crowd, but he is yet to confirm if he is walking away or not.

UFC 290 MAIN CARD RESULTS

Alex Volkanovski vs Yair Rodiguez - featherweight title

Brandon Moreno vs Alexandre Pantoja - flyweight

Dricus Du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker via TKO, Round 2

Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner via split decision

Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn via KO, Round 1

PRELIMS

Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via KO, Round 1

Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui via TKO, Round 2

Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute via submission (guillotine), Round 2

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EARLY PRELIMS

Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross via KO, Round 1

Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell via TKO, Round 1

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