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UFC fans can expect an electrifying featherweight matchup between Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290. The highly anticipated fight is set to take place during International Fight Week on July 08, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Both fighters are known for their impressive striking skills and athleticism, making this matchup one to watch. Volkanovski, the current featherweight champion, will be defending his title against the newly crowned interim champion Rodriguez, who is considered one of the most exciting fighters in the division.
Volkanovski has been on an impressive run since joining the UFC in 2016, with his last loss dating back to 2013. He claimed the featherweight title in December 2019, defeating Max Holloway in a closely contested fight. Since then, he has successfully defended his title four times, against Holloway x2, Brian Ortega, and The Korean Zombie.
Apart from Amanda Nunes' women's featherweight championship, he now holds the record for the promotion's longest-reigning champion. The last time around, Alexander Volkanovski's 22-fight winning run was broken when he lost a tight decision against Makhachev at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia. Volkanovski was looking for a quick but now Rodriguez will serve as the next opponent for the featherweight champion, according to Dana White.
In his most recent fight, Yair Rodriguez defeated Josh Emmett by second-round submission to capture the interim featherweight title at UFC 284. With major victories over Ortega, Korean Zombie, Jeremy Stephens, BJ Penn, and Dan Hooker among others, the Mexican is 10-2-1in the UFC. Yair Rodriguez will compete at UFC 290 to unify the belts and enter the list along with flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso as the third Mexican-born undisputed champion in UFC history.
The fight between Volkanovski and Rodriguez has been highly anticipated for some time, with both fighters expressing their interest in facing each other. Volkanovski sees Rodriguez as a worthy challenger, while Rodriguez has been vocal about his desire to face the champion.
This fight is set to be a clash of styles, with Volkanovski's aggressive style and grappling ability coming up against Rodriguez's dynamic striking and unpredictable movements. The winner of this fight will solidify their position as one of the top featherweights in the world.