UFC: Volkanovski heavily favoured ahead of UFC 290 title fight

UFC 290 is headlined by Alexander Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez. This a title unification fight, the winner will be crowned undisputed UFC featherweight champion. Volkanovski is the current UFC featherweight champion, and Rodriguez is the interim champion. Let’s take a look at the betting odds and the resumes.

Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez will fight to determine the undisputed UFC featherweight champion on July 8 in Las Vegas. Volkanovski is the favourite by a decent margin on UFC betting sites. Volkanovski has -450 odds to win the fight on 888sport. Rodriguez is the underdog, and has +325 odds to win the fight.

This fight is between two champions. Rodriguez is the younger and taller fighter. He is 30 years old and 5’11. Volkanovski is listed at 5’6 and is 34 years old. Since 2018, Volkanovski and Rodriguez have lost one fight each. Volkanovski lost to Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, Rodriguez lost to Max Holloway at a UFC fight night in 2021.

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Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski

Volkanovski is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the UFC. He is currently ranked second on the UFC’s pound for pound list. If Jon Jones didn’t make return to the UFC, Volkanovski might be ranked number one. He has a 25-2 professional record and his UFC resume is almost impeccable. His only loss in the UFC was to current lightweight champion Makhachev.

Although Volkanovski has been dominant, only four of his wins in the UFC have come by KO/TKO. Rodriguez has only been stopped once in his career via doctor stoppage, so it seems likely that Volkanovski will win by decision rather than KO/TKO. Volkanovski was the underdog in his fight against Makhachev, so he’s never lost a fight in the UFC as the favourite. 

Yair “El Pantera” Rodriguez

Rodriguez is a huge underdog heading into this fight on the sportsbooks. Rodriguez is the interim champion, but his resume isn’t close to Volkanovski’s. Rodriguez still has a chance in this fight and shouldn’t be overlooked. His wins against the Korean zombie Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ortega, and Josh Emmett were surprising. He finished them in some of the most unique ways you will see in the UFC. 

Rodriguez is an extremely creative fighter with multiple weapons. In the UFC, all it takes is one mistake before someone like Rodriguez capitalizes and ends the fight. The good news for Rodriguez is Volkanovski was stopped early in his MMA career. If Rodriguez can be creative or catch Volkanovski with a clean shot, he should have a chance in this fight. 

UFC 290 Card