UFC 290 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez results
Re-live updates from two titles fights and a stacked undercard in Las Vegas
Alexander Volkanovski continued his dominant run atop the UFC featherweight division on Saturday, stopping interim champion Yair Rodriguez to unify the titles.
Volkanovski controlled the Mexican on the mat for most of the first two rounds, and just when Rodriguez began to flicker into life in the striking exchanges, Volkanovski fired back with a hard right hook to set up a ground-and-pound finish in Round 3.
In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja won a thrilling, back-and-forth battle with Brandon Moreno, taking the flyweight title from the Mexican with a split-decision win. The victory also saw the Brazilian move to 3-0 against two-time champion Moreno, whom Pantoja also beat in 2016 and 2018.
Earlier in the night, South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis stunned Robert Whittaker, beating the ex-middleweight champion via TKO before facing off with reigning title holder Israel Adesanya in a heated exchange. All the while, ex-US president Donald Trump watched on from ringside.
Also, former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler won his retirement fight by knocking out Niko Price inside the first minute, Dan Hooker outpointed Jalin Turner despite suffering a broken arm, and Bo Nickal knocked out Val Woodburn to move to 5-0 with a fifth first-round finish. Re-live UFC 290 below.
UFC 290 LIVE: Robert Whittaker vs Dricus Du Plessis
Here we go, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker takes on rising contender Dricus Du Plessis!
UFC 290 LIVE: Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker
Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).
Indy Sport had it the same way as two of the judges: 29-28 to Hooker, as per our scorecard on the Verdict app.
UFC 290 LIVE: Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker
Round 3
Third and final round. Turner throws a jumping knee, but he’s immediately staggered by a right hand.
He comes back and connects with an uppercut, and a grazing front kick as Hooker ducks. Now Hooker surges forward, absorbing jabs but throwing straight shots, which are hurting Turner.
Turner shoots for a double-leg takedown, and Hooker offers little resistance. The lightweights soon stand, however.
Hooker marches forward with more straight rights and lefts, and Turner hits the canvas again! Hooker ends up in Turner’s guard; he’d seemingly have been better off letting Turner stand...
However, Hooker is getting punches off. He postures up now but receives a few elbows for his trouble.
Finally the fighters stand, and the buzzer sounds!
UFC 290 LIVE: Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker
Round 2
Hooker with a right hook to the body and a left hook to the head. Turner stalks him, standing southpaw at the moment.
OH! Turner with a clean head kick! It’s busted up Hooker badly, and the Kiwi grapples his opponent in a bid to reduce any further offence from Turner for the time being... but Turner is still landing!
Eventually the pace slows. Hooker just about blocks another head kick, but it still wobbles him.
Now Hooker comes forward with a series of straight shots, and Turner is wobbly!! What a phase of play from Hooker! Can he get a finish late in the round?!
Turner falls to the mat, and Hooker gets a rear naked choke locked in... but the buzzer saves Turner! WHAT A ROUND!
UFC 290 LIVE: Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker
Round 1
Hooker kicks low. Turner comes over the top with a right hand before switching to southpaw.
Now it’s Turner who kicks low, before Hooker returns fire. Hooker fires off another kick and is warned for striking the groin.
Turner with some success punching to the head. Both men flick out front kicks. A Turner right cross stumbles Hooker as the Kiwi kicks low.
Hooker eats a head kick well. Turner is starting to light up Hooker with punches. Hooker with kicks low and to the body.
Hooker lands a right cross then sees a head kick blocked. Both men land hard punches in a frantic exchange!
Hooker with a left hook, but Turner fires back with straight shots! Fun round.
UFC 290 LIVE: Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker
Here we go, fan favourite and veteran Dan Hooker takes on rising contender Jalin Turner at lightweight.
New Zealand’s Hooker is 22-12 as a pro, while American Turner is 13-6.
The pair were due to fight one another in March, but the bout was delayed.
Turner actually missed weight on Friday, coming in at 158lbs.
It’s #11 (Turner) vs #12 (Hooker).
UFC 290 LIVE: Bo Nickal vs Val Woodburn
Round 1
OH!!!! Nickal makes light work of UFC debutant Woodburn!
Nickal tags his opponent with a southpaw right hook, staggering Woodburn. He then lands a hard left hook, staggering Woodburn further, before dropping him with another left!
Nickal is a wrestling prodigy but has HANDS, too.
Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn via first-round TKO (punches, 0:38).
UFC 290 LIVE: Bo Nickal vs Val Woodburn
We’ll kick off the main card with Bo Nickal vs Val Woodburn at middleweight.
Nickal, who was originally due to face Tresean Gore, has impressed since transitioning from wrestling to MMA.
The American, 27, is 4-0 and won his UFC debut with a first-round submission in March.
In fact, all of his fights have ended in the first round, with three of those wins coming via submission and one coming via KO.
UFC 290 LIVE: Full prelim results
Before the main card begins, here are the prelim results in full:
Prelims
Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via first-round KO (punches, 0:38)
Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui via first-round TKO (punches, 0:20)
Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute via second-round submission (guillotine choke, 1:55)
Early prelims
Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio via third-round submission (arm triangle, 3:42)
Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell via first-round TKO (3:10)
Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross via first-round KO (0:17)
Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 290: Donald Trump in the building
Donald Trump high-fives fans at UFC 290 in Las Vegas
The former US president has been to numerous events staged by the MMA promotion
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