UFC 290: Volkanovski Dominates Rodriguez in TKO Victory; Pantoja Claims Moreno’s Belt-Full Results
For the undisputed championship at UFC 290, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and Interim Champion Yair Rodriguez squared battle on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the third round, Volkanovski finished the fight with a commanding exhibition of his abilities inside the Octagon after shutting down Rodriguez.
Rodriguez won the interim title at UFC 284, which took place in Perth, Australia, in February. Volkanovski contested Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship on the same event but lost a close decision. Rodriguez posed a difficult struggle for Volkanovski, but a wise decision in the third round gave Volkanovski the advantage. His victory confirmed his unchallenged title reign and put all skepticism to rest.
In the co-main event, Alexander Pantozzi claimed the UFC Flyweight title for the third time in his career by defeating Brandon Moreno. Pantozzi secured the victory through a split decision, with judges scoring the fight 48-47 in his favor, while one judge scored an extraordinary 49-46 for Moreno.
The closely contested third round saw both fighters swinging in every possible way, showcasing an intense and competitive exchange throughout the five rounds. Both contenders displayed remarkable heart and resilience, with signs of their aggressive approaches evident. Pantozzi’s grappling skills proved decisive, and he managed to secure dominant positions in the latter rounds.
Their unwavering tenacity and distinctive fighting characteristics were on full display throughout the entire contest. Due to Pantozzi’s skill in the mat, he successfully countered Moreno’s late-round surges.
The program was enhanced by these memorable moments of back-and-forth conflict, which included the eagerly anticipated resolution of the earlier nail-biting finale. Even though Moreno may be hurt by the loss, he may be proud of his outstanding career-long performance. Pantozzi can also be proud of making a significant contribution to his career’s outstanding performance. Together, they fought in a titanic struggle that will go down in MMA history.