It was Volkanovski’s first combat since a loss by unanimous determination to light-weight champion light-weight Islam Makhachev on Feb. 11.
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Printed Jul 09, 2023 • 3 minute learn
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LAS VEGAS — After briefly flirting with the light-weight division, Alexander Volkanovski returned to featherweight and confirmed Saturday evening why he’s nonetheless the most effective in that weight.
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Volkanovski re-asserted himself because the champion with a technical knockout over Yair Rodriguez at 4:19 of the third spherical in UFC 290.
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Rodriguez was the interim champion after Volkanovski briefly moved as much as light-weight, however the Australian left little doubt who the higher fighter in operating his report to 26-2 in what was scheduled as a five-round bout.
“There was a little bit of worry … realizing how harmful he was,” Volkanovski stated. “That’s the sincere fact. I put in my head. This week, I flipped the change due to the respect I’ve for him. Now I’m a champion. I’m the king of the division. Nobody’s ever stopped me.”
Former President Donald Trump, who’s operating for the Republican nomination in 2024, was amongst these in attendance. He entered the venue shortly earlier than the principle card started, strolling subsequent to UFC President Dana White and drawing roars from the sold-out T-Cellular Area crowd of 19,204. Trump shook fingers with Las Vegas Raiders star defensive finish Maxx Crosby, a serious UFC fan who sat behind him. Jamal Murray of the NBA champion Denver Nuggets additionally had a flooring seat.
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White stated the gate was $9.75 million.
“I believe you couldn’t have topped off a greater Worldwide Battle Week,” White stated. “The power was off the charts. It was an ideal evening.”
Volkanovski, a minus-390 favourite in line with FanDuel Sportsbook, took Rodriguez (16-4) to the mat close to the 2-minute mark of the primary spherical and stored him there to dictate the tempo. That turned a theme because the second spherical performed out a lot the identical approach, with Volkanovski, 34, additionally delivering a number of pictures to Rodriguez’s face.
Rodriguez, who’s from Mexico, then took the combat to Volkanovski within the third spherical, stopping the bottom and pound with a collection of kicks to place him on the defence. However with a minute left, Volkanovski slammed Rodriguez, 30, to the mat and pounded him with rights and lefts earlier than referee Herb Dean stepped in.
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Rodriguez was despatched to the hospital.
This was Volkanovski’s first combat since a loss by unanimous determination to light-weight champion light-weight Islam Makhachev on Feb. 11. That ended Volkanovski’s 22-fight profitable streak, and after the transient elevation to light-weight, he dropped again all the way down to featherweight for this combat.
Earlier than shifting up, Volkanovski had gained 5 titles fights to make a robust argument as greatest featherweight of all time. He additionally has been within the dialog for high present pound-for-pound fighter, and Volkanovski is second within the UFC’s official rankings to Jon Jones.
“I’m actually coming for all of the data,” Volkanovski stated. “I’m fairly near knocking a couple of of these of, however lots of objectives forward. I may be on this place proper now, however I assure I’ll be within the health club subsequent week busting my ass once more.”
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The Volkanovski-Rodriguez match highlighted the Worldwide Battle Week card that included a second championship bout.
Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja captured the flyweight belt by beating champion Brandon Moreno of Mexico, profitable by cut up determination, with each fighters taken to a hospital after the bout. White stated Moreno had a damaged hand.
Judges Derek Cleary and Junichiro Kamijo gave the Pantoja the victory at 48-47 within the five-round combat, however Ben Cartlidge noticed the bout fairly in a different way with a 49-46 rating in favor of Moreno.
Pantoja (26-5) collapsed to the mat after the choice was introduced. He has overwhelmed Moreno (21-7-2) in all three conferences.
“I labored so arduous,” Pantoja stated. “I left all the things I had.”
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Moreno, a minus-196 favourite, dominated the second spherical, however had a tough defending Pantoja’s floor sport within the different 4. Even so, the battle was pretty even for probably the most half, and the blood on each fighters’ faces underscored how a lot every went after the opposite.
Moreno gained the belt practically a 12 months in the past and efficiently defended it in January.
Robbie Lawler, who was inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame on Thursday, heads into retirement on a excessive word after knocking out Niko Value simply 38 seconds into the primary spherical of their welterweight bout.
Lawler, 41, ends his profession with a 30-16 report and one no-contest. He teared up watching a video tribute to him following the combat, and the gang roared chanting his first identify.
“It was a tough coaching camp,” Lawler stated. “Nothing felt good. Immediately was the primary day I felt good.”
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