UFC 290 Tips and Predictions
Dateline Las Vegas, Nevada!!!
UFC is bringing violence back to its favourite destination, Las Vegas with the star-studded UFC 290 event during International fight week.
The main card is stacked with two title fights and a potential title eliminator bout which should make this a memorable night.
We’re back this week with our insights and best bets hoping to get back to winning ways after a 1/3 week, so let’s dive right in!
Alexander Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez
The former pound-for-pound king and current undisputed Featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski is back in action to solidify his claim amongst the greatest to ever do it.
The man stepping up to spoil the party for the Aussie is the toughest matchup for anyone in the division, Yair Rodriguez who is coming off a performance bonus-worthy showcase which earned him interim gold.
Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski is still regarded by fight fans as the Pound for Pound King post his notable mission at Lightweight.
He is riding a respectable 12-fight win streak at Featherweight which has already got him involved in the Best Featherweight of all time discussions.
He has run through elites of the game like Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes in his UFC stint.
The champion is an elite kickboxer attributed to his time at City Kickboxing, but he is also known for his impeccable fight IQ which put him on the Pound for Pound throne.
Alex is very well-rounded, but his biggest asset is his cardio which could be key in a 5-round fight against an explosive challenger.
Yair “El Pantera” Rodriguez has always been a fan favourite having won 9 performance accolades, but his recent comeback has proven that there is a sharp mind behind his wild fighting style.
Outside of the champion, Rodriguez is the only man to give Max Holloway a run for his money in a 5-round fight of the night war.
The Interim champion has beaten elite competition like Brian Ortega, Josh Emmett, and Jung Chan-Sung to earn his stripes.
In the words of Dominic Cruz, "Yair Rodriguez is one of one" given his unpredictable yet effective striking style mixed with his sneaky submission acumen.
Yair is not a minute winner, so his ability to finish fights is his biggest weapon to become the third current Undisputed Mexican World champion.
Best Bets
First up is a violent Middleweight bout to determine the next title challenger between Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis.
Du Plessis poses a unique puzzle to solve but we don’t think it’s anything Whittaker hasn’t already dealt with.
Whittaker is the far superior technical striker, has good takedown defense and better cardio so we do not see Du Plessis beating him in any aspect other than a Hail Mary.
We think Whittaker will make reads early and overwhelm Du Plessis eventually to earn a late finish and a trilogy fight with Israel Adesanya.
Next up is our co-main event between elite Flyweights Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja.
We expect this to be a high-level chess match playing out on the feet for the most part given the elite grappling credentials in both corners.
The value on Pantoja is tempting given that he has beaten the champion twice and has been running through contenders.
We believe Pantoja will enter the contest with a mental edge, and we will see the crowning of a new champion. #AndNew.
Our final pick comes on our main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez.
This fight will be a great clash of styles and fun for the fans to watch as long as it stays on its feet.
Ultimately, we think Alexander Volkanovski has elite fight IQ which is crucial in championship settings.
He will manage his distance well, mix in the takedowns and overwhelm Rodriguez across 25 minutes.
So, barring any crazy spinning elbows or flying knees, we think Alexander Volkanovski will continue to rule the 145-pound division.
Selection: Robert Whittaker by KO or Submission (Wining Method, Double Chance) @1.93
Selection: Alexandre Pantoja (Winner) @2.7
Selection: Alexander Volkanovski by Decision (Win method) @1.85
