In a highly anticipated showdown, Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his featherweight championship by securing a TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez in the thrilling main event of UFC 290 on Saturday night.
Throughout the early rounds, both fighters showcased their striking prowess, engaging in a closely contested battle. However, it was in the third round that Volkanovski started to assert his dominance. Unleashing a barrage of powerful punches, he managed to rock Rodriguez, seizing control of the fight.
With a little over four minutes remaining in the third round, Volkanovski landed a devastating left hook that sent Rodriguez crashing to the canvas. The forceful blow proved too much for Rodriguez to recover from, prompting the referee to intervene and halt the fight at the 4:19 mark of the round.
With this impressive victory, Volkanovski extends his winning streak to an astounding 22 fights and firmly retains his position as the reigning UFC featherweight champion. His remarkable MMA career record now stands at an impressive 25 wins and 2 losses.
For Rodriguez, who was making his first appearance in a title fight, the defeat brings his overall record to 16 wins and 3 losses. Despite this setback, Rodriguez had previously demonstrated his capabilities with wins in his last two fights, most notably securing a knockout victory over Chan Sung Jung in November 2021.
In the co-main event of the evening, Dan Hooker emerged triumphant over Jalin Turner in a closely contested bout that ended in a split decision. Both fighters exhibited their striking skills, landing significant blows throughout the contest. However, it was Hooker's ability to execute takedowns and maintain ground control that ultimately tipped the scales in his favor, earning him the judges' favor.
With this victory, Hooker improves his overall MMA record to 23 wins and 11 losses. Having now secured victories in two of his last three fights, he continues to demonstrate his prowess inside the Octagon. As for Turner, who made his UFC debut, he exits the contest with a record of 12 wins and 5 losses.
Among other notable outcomes at UFC 290, veteran fighter Robbie Lawler showcased his power by securing a knockout victory over Niko Price in the first round. Tatsuro Taira displayed his skills and secured a unanimous decision victory against Edgar Chairez. Denise Gomes impressed with a first-round TKO triumph over Yazmin Jauregui. Alonzo Menifield showcased his submission skills, forcing Jimmy Crute to tap out in the second round. Vitor Petrino demonstrated his grappling prowess, securing a submission victory over Marcin Prachnio in the third round. Finally, Cameron Saaiman displayed his striking ability by securing a first-round TKO victory over Terrence Mitchell.
