A pair of title fights highlights the UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez card as the promotion hosts its annual International Fight Week on Saturday. The main event between current champ Alexander Volkanovski and interim champ Yair Rodriguez will unify the featherweight division. Volkanovski vacated the strap when he moved up a class for a lightweight title bout with Islam Makhachev, which he lost by unanimous decision at UFC 284 snapping a 22-fight winning streak. Volkanovski is currently ranked the second-best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC behind Jon Jones.

Stepping back down to a division he’s dominated for years doesn’t guarantee Alexander “The Great” will return to the win column. He’s a big favorite on the UFC betting line to beat Yair Rodriguez, but the Mexican whirlwind is an unpredictable fighter and a challenge for anyone. Rodriguez claimed the interim title with a second round submission of Josh Emmett at UFC 284.

The flyweight belt is up for grabs in the co-main event with champ Brandon Moreno a UFC odds favorite to retain the title against Alexandre Pantoja. The two met previously with Pantoja emerging victorious in both bouts. He scored a submission win in an exhibition at the UFC Tournament of Champions in 2016 and two years later won by unanimous decision. Moreno has just one setback in 10 fights since the 2018 loss.

Bet on UFC online at BetRivers sportsbook with odds for every fight on the ticket. The action takes place on Saturday, July 8, 2023 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The main card is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN pay-per-view. The prelims can be seen on ESPN and ABC with the early prelims on ESPN2.

UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez Main Card Odds

Yair Rodriguez +286 vs. Alexander Volkanovski -390

Alexandre Pantoja +165 vs. Brandon Moreno -210

Dricus Du Plessis +292 vs. Robert Whittaker -400

Dan Hooker +211 vs. Jalin Turner -275

Val Woodburn +970 vs. Bo Nickal -2500

A dominant force within the division, Volkanovski (25-2, 12 KOs, 3 SUBs) shows no signs of letting up as he reaches his mid-30s. In fact his last fight, though he lost, may have solidified his legacy as one of the best to ever enter the Octagon. After a lengthy run of success that saw him go undefeated, I guess Volkanovski needed other competition. He jumped into the lion’s den with a battle against Makhachev giving the lightweight champ all he could handle.

Volkanovski has won 12 straight UFC featherweight fights showing off a complete package in dismantling opponents. He won the title with a unanimous decision over Max Holloway at UFC 245 and successfully defended in the rematch with a split decision. Three of his last five wins were against the No. 2 ranked featherweight contender. He also had a decision over No. 3 Brian Ortega in 2021 and KOd No. 8 Chan Sung Jung in 2022.

While Rodriguez (15-3, 5 KOs, 4 SUBs) probably isn’t the toughest opponent Volkanovski has faced, he does present a challenge with his unique set of skills. A ferocious striker, Rodriguez also shows creativity in his kicking game. And that’s an area where Volkanovski was weak in the loss to Makhachev. One common opponent the fighters have is Holloway, who beat Rodriguez by unanimous decision in 2021, Rodriguez’s only loss in his last 10 fights.

Most UFC betting sites expect Volkanovski to return to this dominating ways back in the 145-class. And a win puts ‘The Great’ in line for a rematch with Makhachev or possibly a bout with rising contender Ilia Topuria, who extended his unbeaten record to 14-0 with a unanimous decision over Josh Emmett last month. However, if Rodriguez pulls off the upset the division suddenly gets turned upside down with Rodriguez the hunted.

It’s a great story and certainly possible. But the likelihood of Rodriguez winning the fight isn’t high. He can’t go toe-to-toe with Volkanovski since his skill as a boxer isn’t near that of his opponent. And Volkanovski is just stronger and covers ground as well as or better than every UFC fighter. If the fight goes the distance it’s a decision for ‘The Great.’ Rodriguez has to use his creativity and the full arsenal to penetrate Volkanovski. And according for former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub, Rodriguez has “that weird X-factor that you can’t really train for.”

I’m not about to throw down on Volkanovski as a 40/1 favorite on the UFC betting line making alternate markets a good play. Rodriguez is stealthy enough to avoid contact and go the distance, but he doesn’t have the goods to win on points. With fight odds of +135 to win by unanimous decision, Volkanovski has some value.

UFC Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski / Unanimous Decision

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