The UFC featherweight titles will be unified this weekend, as Alexander Volkanovski takes on interim champion Yair Rodriguez in a main-event clash. The pair headline UFC 290 in Las Vegas, where Volkanovski will try to maintain his dominance at 145lbs, following a brave but unsuccessful bid to win the lightweight title in February. The Australian lost a narrow decision to 155lbs champion Islam Makhachev in Perth, at the same event where Rodriguez submitted Josh Emmett to win the interim featherweight belt. In the co-main event on Saturday, Brandon Moreno defends his flyweight title against a foe who has beaten him twice: Alexandre Pantoja. Moreno has improved significantly since those losses in 2016 and 2018, but this bout marks a difficult defence to kickstart the Mexican’s second reign as champion. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? UFC 290 will take place on Saturday 8 July, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The early prelims are set to begin at 11pm BST (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday 9 July (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then due to begin at 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How can I watch it? The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Odds Volkanovski – 2/9; Rodriguez – 100/30 Moreno – 1/2; Pantoja – 13/8 Whittaker – 1/4; Du Plessis – 3/1 Full odds via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs Yair Rodriguez (IC) (featherweight title) Brandon Moreno (C) vs Alexandre Pantoja (flyweight title) Robert Whittaker vs Dricus Du Plessis (middleweight) Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker (lightweight) Bo Nickal vs Tresean Gore (middleweight) Prelims Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price (welterweight) Jack Della Maddalena vs TBC (welterweight) Yazmin Jauregui vs Denise Gomes (women’s strawweight) Jimmy Crute vs Alonzo Menifield (light-heavyweight) Early prelims Vitor Petrino vs Marcin Prachnio (light-heavyweight) Cameron Saaiman vs Terrence Mitchell (bantamweight) Shannon Ross vs Jesus Aguilar (flyweight) Kamuela Kirk vs Esteban Ribovics (lightweight) Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More UFC rankings: The Independent’s pound-for-pound fighters list UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year Sean Strickland makes passionate plea for Israel Adesanya fight after dominant win Conor McGregor shoves Michael Chandler in the face amid coaching criticism What time does UFC 290 start in UK and US this weekend? How to watch UFC 290 online and on TV this weekend
The UFC featherweight titles will be unified this weekend, as Alexander Volkanovski takes on interim champion Yair Rodriguez in a main-event clash.
The pair headline UFC 290 in Las Vegas, where Volkanovski will try to maintain his dominance at 145lbs, following a brave but unsuccessful bid to win the lightweight title in February.
The Australian lost a narrow decision to 155lbs champion Islam Makhachev in Perth, at the same event where Rodriguez submitted Josh Emmett to win the interim featherweight belt.
In the co-main event on Saturday, Brandon Moreno defends his flyweight title against a foe who has beaten him twice: Alexandre Pantoja. Moreno has improved significantly since those losses in 2016 and 2018, but this bout marks a difficult defence to kickstart the Mexican’s second reign as champion.
Here’s all you need to know.
When is it?
UFC 290 will take place on Saturday 8 July, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The early prelims are set to begin at 11pm BST (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday 9 July (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then due to begin at 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday).
How can I watch it?
The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights.
In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
Odds
Volkanovski – 2/9; Rodriguez – 100/30
Moreno – 1/2; Pantoja – 13/8
Whittaker – 1/4; Du Plessis – 3/1
Full odds via Betway.
Full card (subject to change)
Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs Yair Rodriguez (IC) (featherweight title)
Brandon Moreno (C) vs Alexandre Pantoja (flyweight title)
Robert Whittaker vs Dricus Du Plessis (middleweight)
Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker (lightweight)
Bo Nickal vs Tresean Gore (middleweight)
Prelims
Robbie Lawler vs Niko Price (welterweight)
Jack Della Maddalena vs TBC (welterweight)
Yazmin Jauregui vs Denise Gomes (women’s strawweight)
Jimmy Crute vs Alonzo Menifield (light-heavyweight)
Early prelims
Vitor Petrino vs Marcin Prachnio (light-heavyweight)
Cameron Saaiman vs Terrence Mitchell (bantamweight)
Shannon Ross vs Jesus Aguilar (flyweight)
Kamuela Kirk vs Esteban Ribovics (lightweight)
Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.
Read More
UFC rankings: The Independent’s pound-for-pound fighters list
UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year
Sean Strickland makes passionate plea for Israel Adesanya fight after dominant win
Conor McGregor shoves Michael Chandler in the face amid coaching criticism
What time does UFC 290 start in UK and US this weekend?
How to watch UFC 290 online and on TV this weekend
