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: Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price
Lawler: “It was a hard training camp, nothing was going right. Today was the first day I happened to feel alright.”
“It was good, I was landing some big shots in good places – temples, chin. It was too much.
A lovely video package plays, in tribute to Lawler, and he’s breaking down in tears.
“Thank you for the years of support. I’m blessed, I’m grateful.”
UFC 290: Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price
Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via first-round KO (punches, 0:38).
UFC 290: Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price
Round 1
“Robbie” is the chant as the welterweights get going. Lawler just about lands a one-two.
OH! Lawler grabs Price’s head and starts hammering him with hooks and uppercuts in close, and Price crumples to the floor in a heap! The fight is waved off!
WHAT an ending to Lawler’s career! He takes a knee, emotional in the ring...
Announcer Bruce Buffer goes and says a few words to him. Now Price – back on his feet – congratulates him.
UFC 290: Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price
One more prelim bout to come. “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler will take his final bow, as he fights the always entertaining Niko Price.
Lawler, 41, is a former welterweight champion, best known for his war with Rory McDonald in 2015 – a fight that saw both men inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this week.
UFC 290: Tatsuro Taira vs Edgar Chairez
Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27).
UFC 290: Tatsuro Taira vs Edgar Chairez
Round 3
Snapping jab from Chairez. Low kick by Taira. Now a right cross and left hook from Chairez! He’s having a decent amount of success on the feet, I’m not sure why he tried so hard for those guillotines in Rounds 1 and 2 – against a superior grappler, no less.
Now Taira shoots for a double-leg takedown. Chairez’s response? A guillotine effort, of course... It doesn’t work, and Taira has the Mexican in half-guard.
The crowd – which contains a fair few of Chairez’s compatriots tonight – expresses its frustration at Taira’s dominance.
OH! Almost out of nowhere, Chairez reverses position again, and he FINALLY gets the guillotine! But Taira is able to survive until the buzzer! Wow, that was in tight.
UFC 290: Tatsuro Taira vs Edgar Chairez
Round 2
Again Chairez shoots for a guillotine, jumping and pulling guard to get it...
But it’s not there. Taira moves from guard to mount and fires off more elbows. Chairez is able to get half-guard, but Taira is back into mount before long.
The Japanese is dominating – posturing up and unloading punches now. Chairez manages to reverse position, but Taira locks in a triangle choke in response!
The buzzer saves Chairez...
UFC 290: Tatsuro Taira vs Edgar Chairez
Round 1
Hard outside low kick by Chairez. Taira responds in kind, then kicks inside. “Mexico” is the chant at the T-Mobile Arena.
More harsh leg kicks by Taira, but Chairez floors the Japanese with one of his own! Taira bounces back up.
Oh! But he’s right back down after a right hand from Chairez! The Mexican pounces, trying a guillotine, but Taira is surviving.
Taira eventually manages to slip free, and he pursues an arm-triangle choke, before deciding to fire off elbows instead.
All the while, Chairez is hooking his feet in the fence, which is illegal. Referee Herb Dean warns him.
Taira has Chairez in crucifix position and is landing more elbows.
UFC 290: Tatsuro Taira vs Edgar Chairez
And here we go! The fight is about to get under way.
Mexico’s Chairez, 27, has a pro record of 10-4. Japan’s Taira, 23, is 13-0 as a pro.
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