After a short cease at UFC Apex for UFC Vegas 76, we are able to lastly say Worldwide Battle Week 2023 has lastly arrived. UFC 290 goes down this Saturday (July 8, 2023) from inside T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the promotion has assembled an entertaining pay-per-view (PPV) card headlined by two title fights. In UFC 290’s essential occasion, Featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, battles interim 145-pound kingpin, Yair Rodriguez. Within the co-feature, Flyweight roost-ruler, Brandon Moreno, seems to be to actual revenge on long-time nemesis, Alexandre Pantoja.
So, earlier than the largest struggle card of the 12 months (thus far) goes down tomorrow in “Sin Metropolis,” let’s try some random storylines, tidbits and statistics forward of showtime …
LIVE! Watch UFC 290 PPV On ESPN+ Right here!
TWO THRILLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOUTS! Worldwide Battle Week returns to Las Vegas, Nevada, to coincide with UFC 290, which takes place inside T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., July 8, 2023. UFC 290 will function a blockbuster world championship pay-per-view (PPV) doubleheader, capped off by a title unification bout that may see Featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, battle interim titleholder, Yair Rodriguez. In UFC 290’s PPV co-main occasion, two-time Flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno, defends his belt towards long-time rival, Alexandre Pantoja. There’s Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus Du Plessis and extra, too!
Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching motion!
Worldwide Battle Week FTW!
UFC 290 will mark Volkanovski’s third straight Worldwide Battle Week. In his first effort at UFC 266 in 2021, he headlined towards Brian Ortega (it was additionally his first UFC essential occasion). His subsequent look was final 12 months towards Max Holloway at UFC 276 (watch highlights). Lastly, UFC 290 will likely be his third crack on the summer time combined martial arts (MMA) staple, and can attempt to unify the Featherweight belts.
House Once more
Volkanovski is returning to his division after shifting as much as attempt to grow to be a “champ-champ.” He was unsuccessful at UFC 284 when he misplaced a detailed unanimous choice to Islam Makhachev, however the struggle ended up being one the perfect to this point in 2023.
Undisputed Likelihood
Rodriguez is presently the Interim Featherweight champion, and ever since he gained the belt by submitting Josh Emmett at UFC 284 (watch highlights), struggle followers have discounted him as an actual champion. Whereas sure, his championship belt just isn’t the undisputed championship, it’s nonetheless a championship that holds weight regardless. On Saturday, Rodriguez can unify his title and grow to be the third undisputed Mexican UFC champion behind Alexa Grasso and Moreno.
One other Trilogy For ‘The Murderer Child’
Moreno is lastly executed together with his rivalry with Deiveson Figueiredo, a uncommon quadrilogy that ended unceremoniously. Moreno isn’t getting a brand-new challenger, although, he’s combating somebody who he has a historical past with … somebody who has defeated him twice. The Mexican champion first misplaced to Pantoja on The Final Fighter (TUF) 24 through fast submission. Whereas technically it was an “exhibition,” it nonetheless is a loss in lots of eyes. The pair of proficient Flyweights then ran it again two years later in 2018, with Pantoja profitable once more (through unanimous choice). Later that 12 months, Moreno was really reduce from UFC’s roster.
Alexandre Pantoja has beat Brandon Moreno twice AND is the explanation Moreno obtained reduce in 2018.
The revenge storyline for this weekend is wealthy and heated.#UFC290
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) July 4, 2023
Pantoja Waited And Waited And Waited
Most really feel as if Pantoja ought to have already competed for the Flyweight championship, however sadly, there was a quadrilogy happening. If all was proper within the wild UFC world, the Brazilian would have fought Moreno after he tapped Brandon Royval at UFC Vegas 34 (watch highlights) — Moreno even agreed to struggle him after the win. As a substitute, “The Cannibal” risked his title shot to demolish Alex Perez in lower than two minutes. Typically, when UFC fighters wait for his or her deserved title pictures, it backfires, however for Pantoja, it labored.
Winner Will get Izzy?
The 185-pound showdown between Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus Du Plessis has loads on the road. The winner will grow to be the Middleweight division’s No. 1 contender and sure struggle Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September.
Nicely … that’s what the narrative is.
If Whittaker wins, it’s extremely uncertain that he’ll flip round and fights two months later in what could possibly be his last title alternative. If Du Plessis wins, it’s more likely he’ll flip round and struggle Adesanya.
Du Plessis Model 2.0: Fastened Nostril
Du Plessis has claimed he has been unable to breathe out of his nostril for his total UFC profession to this point, main him to breathe out of his mouth and gasoline throughout his fights. That ought to now not be a difficulty as a result of he had nasal surgical procedure after his final struggle towards Derek Brunson and might now breathe correctly.
Jalin Turner Vs. Oceania
“The Tarantula” is undefeated towards fighters from Australia or New Zealand?
His first sufferer was Callan Potter at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia — he completed him in 53 seconds. One 12 months later, he completed Joshua Culibao through technical knockout in New Zealand. Two years later, at UFC 272 in Las Vegas, Turner knocked out Australia’s Jamie Mullarkey within the second spherical (watch highlights). And final 12 months throughout Worldwide Battle Week, Turner picked up the largest of his profession, submitting Brad Riddell in simply 45 seconds (watch highlights).
At 4-0 towards the Kiwi and Aussies, Turner seems to be to proceed his destruction path towards Dan Hooker at UFC 290.
Thank You For The Reminiscences, Robbie
UFC legend, Robbie Lawler, plans to retire after UFC 290 after a really lengthy 22-year profession. The 41-year-old is a former UFC Welterweight champion, EliteXC Middleweight champion and has competed in three “Battle of the 12 months”-worthy brawls (Johnny Hendricks, Rory MacDonald and Carlos Condit).
He faces Niko Value.
In honor of Robbie Lawler’s final struggle on Saturday, listed here are a few of his most badass moments/finishes of his profession
Thanks for all the nice reminiscences “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler
Take pleasure in pic.twitter.com/t3ypfYB1mX
— (@FireMMAVid) July 6, 2023
Robbie On The Prelims????
Lawler will likely be on featured on the “Prelims” undercard for the primary time since his Octagon debut in 2002.
Welcome To UFC!
4 fighters are making their Octagon debuts this weekend at UFC 290 … and they’re all on brief discover.
Valentine Woodburn (7-0) fights Bo Nickal on lower than one week’s discover. Woodburn was scheduled to struggle on Contender Collection later this summer time.
Josiah Harrell (7-0) takes on Jack Della Maddalena, changing Sean Brady.
Edgar Chairez fights Tatsuro Taira (13-0), changing Kleydson Rodrigues.
Terrence Mitchell (15-2) takes on Cameron Saaiman, changing Christian Rodriguez.
Viral Moments
Two of the fighters competing this week have had viral moments this 12 months:
First up, Harrell turned heads when he crashed by LFA’s cage door:
The following viral second featured Chairez, who was on the best aspect of one of many worst referee stoppages of all time:
LHW Rematch
Alonzo Menifield and Jimmy Crute run it again this weekend after they fought to a draw at UFC 284 earlier this 12 months. It was a enjoyable struggle, however who actually needs to observe it once more?
Mexico And AUSNZ Invasion
5 Mexicans and 5 Australians (one New Zealand fighter, Hooker) compete this weekend at UFC 290.
Mexico: Rodriguez, Moreno, Yazmin Jauregui, Chairez, Jesus Santos AguilarAUSNZ: Volkanovski, Whittaker, Hooker, Maddalena, Crute, Shannon Ross
Undefeated Mania!
Seven fighters on UFC 290 will put their undefeated information on the road: Nickal (4-0), Woodburn (7-0), Harrell (7-0), Jauregui (10-0), Taira (13-0), Vitor Petrino (8-0) and Cameron Saaiman (8-0).
Taira’s First UFC Crowd
A number of UFC fighters have but to struggle in a sold-out area and have solely competed inside UFC’s Apex facility. And highly-touted Flyweight, Tatsuro Taira, is one in all them. He doesn’t want to fret about that any longer as he locks horns with Chairez at UFC 290 and can lastly get the actual UFC expertise. Taira is undefeated (3-0) in UFC and has completed his final two fights.
He was scheduled to struggle at UFC Jacksonville a number of weeks in the past till the last-minute.
Winners And Losers
Nineteen fighters are coming off wins, whereas seven fighters are coming off losses. Two are coming off attracts.
Multi-Divisions
Listed here are the divisions that will likely be on show this Saturday:
Two Mild Heavyweight fights
Two Middleweight fights
Two Welterweight fights
Two Light-weight fights
One Featherweight struggle
One Bantamweight fights
Two Flyweight fights
One ladies’s Strawweight struggle
One Catchweight struggle (Taira vs. Chairez)
Keep in mind that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of all the UFC 290 struggle card proper right here, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ESPN+/ABC at 8 p.m. ET, earlier than the PPV essential card begin time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To take a look at the most recent and best UFC 290: “Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez” information and notes you’ll want to hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.
