UFC 290 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez results

Re-live updates from two titles fights and a stacked undercard in Las Vegas

Ciryl Gane reveals key coaching tip that he ignored in Jon Jones loss

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

• Donald Trump high-fives fans while arriving at UFC 290
• Alexander Volkanovski def. Yair Rodriguez via third-round TKO (punches, 4:19)
• Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Moreno via split decision (46-49, 48-47, 48-47)
• Dricus Du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker via second-round TKO (punches, 2:23)
• Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn via first-round TKO (punches, 0:38)
• Plus full prelim results as Robbie Lawler retires with early KO win

[9 July 2023 02:48 · Alex Pattle]

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.”

[9 July 2023 02:44 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 290: Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price

Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via first-round KO (punches, 0:38).

[9 July 2023 02:43 · Alex Pattle]

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.

[9 July 2023 02:33 · Alex Pattle]

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.

Robbie Lawler after winning the UFC welterweight title in late 2014 (Getty Images)

[9 July 2023 02:29 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 290: Tatsuro Taira vs Edgar Chairez

Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27).

[9 July 2023 02:27 · Alex Pattle]

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.

[9 July 2023 02:21 · Alex Pattle]

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...

[9 July 2023 02:15 · Alex Pattle]

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.

[9 July 2023 02:09 · Alex Pattle]

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.

[9 July 2023 01:49 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 290: Tatsuro Taira vs Edgar Chairez

Next up, we’re expecting Tatsuro Taira vs Edgar Chairez in a 130lbs catchweight bout.