Current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski knocked out Mexican Yair Rodriguez in the main event of UFC 290 in Las Vegas. Alex finished the fight in the third round and retained the champion title. Volkanovski took the fight to the ground almost from the first seconds.
The Australian was never able to enter a painful or choke hold, but was able to win due to control first round. But already in second Rodriguez landed several kicks.
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Third round Rodriguez started much more active — with a series of punches. But this only provoked Volkanovski: the Australian hit Yair right in the jaw with his right hand, and then beat him to the ground. Thus, Alexander remains the featherweight champion, where he returned after an unsuccessful title fight in the lightweight division against Islam Makhachev.
This is Volkanovski’s fifth title defense. He previously defeated Max Holloway, the Korean Zombie and Brian Ortega twice. Before the fight with Alex at UFC 290, Yair Rodriguez was the interim featherweight champion: the Mexican had 20 fights, 15 wins and 4 losses, and one fight with his participation was declared invalid.