International Fight Week, the annual big UFC celebration week in Las Vegas, culminates with UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez, taking place at the T-Mobile Arena, with two title fights and a stacked card.
UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and Interim UFC Featherweight Champion Yair Rodriguez meet in a title unification bout in the main event. Volkanovski is making his fifth title defense, while Rodriguez is looking to become the undisputed champion after winning the interim title against Josh Emmett in February.
UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno defends against Alexandre Pantoja in the second title fight. Pantoja holds two previous wins over Moreno, and comes in riding a three-fight win streak. Moreno defeated Deiveson Figueiredo in January to become the undisputed champion, and this is his first defense of his second title reign.
Also on the main card is a middleweight title eliminator bout between Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis, a lightweight bout pitting Jalin Turner against Dan Hooker, and undefeated middleweight prospect Bo Nickal battles debuting late replacement Val Woodburn. A stacked preliminary card is highlighted by the retirement fight of former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler.
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> Lightweights- Kamuela Kirk (11-5, 1-1 UFC) vs. Esteban Ribovics (11-1, 0-1 UFC)
Kirk lands a jab then scores a takedown. Kirk passes the half-guard and went for the armbar but gets the back and is working towards a choke. He almost has it locked in. Ribovics is fighting it off. Kirk landing punches from the back. Kirk still working from the back. Kirk still working from the back looking for the choke. He's now on top but Ribovics survives the round. 10-9 Kirk.
Ribovics lands a leg kick and Kirk lands a solid combination. They trade kicks and Ribovics lands a flurry. They trade leg kicks and Ribovics lands a combo. Ribovics lands a nice right hand. They tie up and Ribovics gets the takedown. Kirk threw his legs up but they stood and Kirk landed a flying knee then a front kick. Ribovics lands to the body. Kirk shoots for a takedown but Ribovics defends. Kirk lands and continues to pressure looking for the takedown. Ribovics lands a spinning elbow to break. They trade some big shots. Kirk lands to the body then a right hand. Kirk lands some knees as Ribovics lands to the body, then Kirk lands a right hand. Ribovics lands a combo and Kirk stumbles. Ribovics throws Kirk to the ground and starts landing from the top. They get up. Ribovics lands and Kirk stumbles again but gets up. Ribovics lands more big punches. Ribovics lands big shots against the fence and Kirk survives. 10-9 Ribovics, 19-19.
We have a groin strike to start the round by Ribovics. They get back to action and Ribovics lands a leg kick before they trade punches. Ribovics landing combos and kicks low and high. Kirk scores a takedown. Kirk works from the top but Ribovics is able to escape to the feet and they separate. Ribovics lands a nice right hand. Kirk tries a takedown but Ribovics defends. Ribovics lands a combo ending with a head kick, then lands a big right hand. Kirk is able to get a big takedown. They get to their feet and Kirk has the back. They tie up. Ribovics lands as they break and lands big combos at the fence. Kirk tries a takedown but Ribovics defends and is on top landing big punches. They're scramble and stand as Ribovics lands. Ribovics lands an uppercut. Ribovics lands a knee to the body and they trade. Good fight. 10-9 Ribovics, 29-28 Ribovics.
Official Result- Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Flyweights- Shannon Ross (13-7, 0-1 UFC) vs. Jesus Aguilar (8-2, 0-1 UFC)
Ross lands a leg kick and then Aguilar lands a massive right hand that puts Ross immediately to sleep. What a knockout by Aguilar!
Official Result- Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross by knockout (punch) at :17 of Round 1
> Bantamweights- Cameron Saaiman (8-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Terrence Mitchell (15-2, 0-0 UFC)
Mitchell gets a takedown but Saaiman has a guillotine choke locked in and it's in deep. They get to their feet but scramble down and Mitchell is on top. They scramble and get to their feet. Saaiman lands a knee to the body. Saaiman gets it down and has the back and lands some punches. He flattens Mitchell out and is landing big left hands and it is stopped! Big finish and an impressive showing from Saaiman.
Official Result- Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell by TKO (punches) at 3:10 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- Vitor Petrino (8-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Marcin Prachnio (16-6, 3-4 UFC)
Petrino lands a left hand. Prachnio lands some punches. Petrino lands a heavy leg kick. Prachnio lands a right hand. They clinch against the fence and trade knees before separating. Petrino lands a head kick. He lands a left hook and then a right hand and Prachnio is hurt. Petrino tries a takedown but Prachnio is defending. Petrino gets the takedown but they work to the feet. Petrino lands a right hand as they break. Prachnio with a leg kick. They trade inside the pocket. Petrino lands a pair of body kicks. He gets another takedown. Petrino lands from the top. 10-9 Petrino.
Petrino gets an early takedown and is working inside the guard. Prachnio is landing from the bottom but Petrino is in control from the top and looking for an arm. Petrino landing from the top and is still setting something up and then takes the back of Prachnio. Petrino working for a rear-naked choke. Prachnio is able to escape. Prachnio makes it to the end of the round. 10-9 Petrino, 20-18 Petrino.
Petrino lands a jumping knee. Both are landing punches. They trade kicks. Petrino lands a combo. Prachnio lands a few punches. Petrino gets a takedown. He lands from the top and gets the full mount and continues to land. Petrino looks for an arm-triangle choke. It is in tight and Prachnio taps! Petrino gets his first career submission win and looked impressive.
Official Result- Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:42 of Round 3
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> Light Heavyweights- #14 Jimmy Crute (12-3-1, 4-3-1 UFC) vs. Alonzo Menifield (13-3-1, 6-3-1 UFC)
Crute lands a leg kick as Menifield lands a right hand. Menifield lands a big right hand that makes Crute stumble back briefly. Menifield lands and Crute shoots for a takedown but Menifield gets it back to the feet. They clinch and Crute lands some knees. Menifield lands a big right hand as they backed away for a moment but got right back clinched together. Crute reverses position and continues to land knees. They trade knees. 10-9 Crute.
Menifield lands a right hand and then lands a jab. Menifield lands a right hand. Crute shoots for a takedown and briefly had it but they got up. Crute trying for a takedown but Menifield had a guillotine locked in and Crute quickly taps! Finish out of nowhere from Menifield!
Official Result- Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:55 of Round 2
> Women's Strawweights- Yazmin Jauregui (10-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Denise Gomes (7-2, 1-1 UFC)
Gomes lands a right hand and drops Jauregui early. She gets on top and is pounding away on Jauregui and keeps landing and it is stopped! Wow, what an upset and a finish from Gomes.
Official Result- Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui by TKO (punches) at :20 of Round 1
> 130-pound Catchweights- Tatsuro Taira (13-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. Edgar Chairez (10-4, 0-0 UFC)
Taira lands some leg kicks early. He continues to land leg kicks and then lands a right hand. Chairez lands a right hand to the body then lands a left hand that sits Taira down. Chairez gets on top and locks in a guillotine choke but is in the half-guard and doesn't have the choke. Taira is working from the top and pressuring. Chairez is getting warned about his toes being in the cage. Chairez keeps doing it despite multiple warnings. Taira with some elbows from the top to end the round. 10-9 Taira.
Chairez lands a jab as Taira lands some punches and Taira gets a takedown. Taira working from the top and lands some elbows. Taira gets the mount and is landing a lot of punches and elbows from the top. He continues to land and goes for a triangle choke but Chairez is able to survive the round. 10-9 Taira, 20-18 Taira.
Chairez lands a body kick. Taira lands a right hand and Chairez fires back with a combo. Chairez lands a jab as Taira lands some leg kicks. Taira gets a takedown. Taira working from the top and is in control. They work their way to the feet. Chairez has a guillotine choke locked in and ends up with a mounted guillotine choke but Taira is able to survive to the end. 10-9 Chairez, 29-28 Taira.
Official Result- Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
> Welterweights- Robbie Lawler (29-16 1 NC, 14-10 UFC) vs. Niko Price (15-6 2 NC, 7-6 2 NC UFC)
Lawler lands a combo. Lawler lands some big left hands and knocks Price out cold with a vicious punch. What a vintage and fitting end to the career for Lawler, who is very emotional afterwards.
Official Result- Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price by knockout (punches) at :38 of Round 1
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> Middleweights- Bo Nickal (4-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Val Woodburn (7-0, 0-0 UFC)
Woodburn lands first. Nickal lands a big flurry and then knocks Woodburn down with a left hand and is about to get on top but it is stopped after a right hand from the top. Big finish from Nickal.
Official Result- Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn by TKO (punches) at :38 of Round 1
> Lightweights*- #11 Jalin Turner (13-6, 6-3 UFC) vs. #12 Dan Hooker (22-12, 12-8 UFC)
*Turner missed weight by two pounds
Turner lands a leg kick. Turner lands a nice combo then we have a timeout for a groin strike. They get back to action. They're trading kicks. Hooker landing front kicks to the leg. Turner lands a spin kick to the body. They clinch and both land punches. Hooker landed a nice uppercut before they broke. Turner lands a left hand. They trade kicks. Hooker lands a right hand then Turner fires a combo and landed a nice right hook. Hooker lands a right hand. Turner lands a big combo late. 10-9 Turner.
They trade to start the second. Turner lands a body kick followed by a right hand. Hooker lands a leg kick. He lands another. Turner lands a leg kick. Turner with a front kick to the body. Turner lands a big high kick and has Hooker in trouble. Turner lands some punches and they clinch and Turner lands a right hand as they break. Turner lands a right hand. Turner lands to the body. Hooker lands a right hand. Turner scores with a leg kick. Hooker is busted open. Hooker lands a big right hand and then lands a combo and flurry. Turner lands a knee but falls down and Hooker gets the back and squeezes for a choke late. 10-9 Hooker, 19-19.
Turner looking rocked and Hooker rocks him with a combo. They trade in close range. Hooker with some big punches as Turner looks exhausted. Turner is able to get a takedown. They get to their feet. Hooker lading big punches. Turner lands a knee. Hooker lands and Turner goes down. Hooker lading punches from a standing position. Hooker is on top and landing. Turner lands a short elbow from the bottom. Hooker still landing and working from the top. Hooker postures up and is landing left hands. They get to their feet and Turner lands a body kick. Hooker lands a left hand. Incredible fight.
Official Result- Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights- #2 Robert Whittaker (24-6, 15-4 UFC) vs. #5 Dricus Du Plessis (19-2, 5-0 UFC)
Whittaker lands a high kick. They trade kicks. They trade kicks again. Whittaker lands a nice right hand. Whittaker lands a jab. Whittaker lands a leg kick and then gets a takedown. Du Plessis tried to get the neck but Whittaker escaped and they end up back on the feet. They trade punches in close range. Du Plessis lands a knee. Whittaker lands a left hand. Whittaker lands and Du Plessis grabs him and gets a headlock takedown. Du Plessis lands an elbow that cuts Whittaker open. Du Plessis looking for a D'Arce choke. He lands an elbow and lands punches from the top at the end. 10-9 Du Plessis.
They trade to start the second and Whittaker lands a right hand. Whittaker lands a combo. Du Plessis lands a combo. Whittaker lands a jab followed by a high kick. Du Plessis lands a right hand that stumbles Whittaker. Du Plessis pouring it on with a flurry and Whittaker is covering up as he falls down. Du Plessis still pouring it on and it is stopped! What a performance and statement from Du Plessis getting the finish.
Official Result- Dricus Du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker by TKO (punches) at 2:23 of Round 2
> UFC Flyweight Championship- C Brandon Moreno (21-6-2, 9-3-2 UFC) vs. #2 Alexandre Pantoja (25-5, 9-3 UFC)
> UFC Featherweight Championship- C Alexander Volkanovski (25-2, 12-1 UFC) vs. IC Yair Rodriguez (15-3 1 NC, 10-2 1 NC UFC)
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