Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, TONIGHT (Sat., July 8, 2023) with a blockbuster pay-per-view (PPV) world championship doubleheader, featuring a 145-pound title unification bout that will see Featherweight roost-ruler (and pound-for-pound leader), Alexander Volkanovski, battle interim titleholder, Yair Rodriguez. In UFC 290’s PPV co-main event, two-time Flyweight champion, Brandon Moreno, looks to finally overcome long-time nemesis, Alexandre Pantoja, after two previous unsuccessful attempts. We’ve got a Middleweight No. 1 contender eliminator match between Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus Du Plessis, too!
IT’S A CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE-DIP!
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LIVE! Watch UFC 304 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
’McGREGOR-FREE MAIN EVENT! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., June 29, 2024, without its biggest box office draw, Conor McGregor, after the Irish sports star delayed the “greatest comeback of all-time” because he broke his pinky toe (seriously). Coming the rescue once again is Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, agreeing to rematch former division champion, Jiri Prochazka, in the pay-per-view (PPV) main event. In UFC 303’s co-headliner, top-ranked Featherweight contender, Brian Ortega, will attempt to halt the rise of red-hot surging 145-pound prospect, Diego Lopes. UFC 303’s PPV main card (see it here) will also feature Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze and Ian Garry vs. Michael “Venom” Page and so much more. It’s must-watch action! UFC 303 start time scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (Prelims) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV).
Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!
Before that action begins at 10 p.m. ET later this evening, though, MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 290 “Prelims” undercard below, beginning with the first fight at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET). We will then cover UFC 290’s PPV main card in a separate thread right here, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Bet on UFC 290 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 290 “Prelims” undercard results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 290 PPV MAIN CARD QUICK RESULTS:
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez — Volkanovski def. Rodriguez by TKO (punches) at 4:19 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS!
Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja — Pantoja def. Moreno by split decision (46-49, 48-47 x2) — SCORECARD!
Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus Du Plessis — Du Plessis def. Whittaker by TKO (punches) at 2:23 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS!
Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner — Hooker def. Turner by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2) — SCORECARD!
Bo Nickal vs. Valentine Woodburn — Nickal def. Woodburn by TKO (punches) at 0:38 of round one — HIGHLIGHTS!
UFC 290 ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ ‘PRELIMS’ QUICK RESULTS:
Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price — Lawler def. Price by KO (punches) at 0:38 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Edgar Chairez vs. Tatsuro Taira — Taira def. Chairez by unanimous decision (29-27 x3)
Yazmin Jauregui vs. Denise Gomes — Gomes def. Jauregui by TKO (punches) at 0:20 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield — Menifield def. Crute by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:55 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS!
Vitor Petrino vs. Marcin Prachnio — Petrino def. Mitchell by submission (arm triangle choke) at 3:42 of Round Three
Terrence Mitchell vs. Cameron Saaiman — Saaiman def. Mitchell by TKO (punches) at 3:10 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Jesus Aguilar vs. Shannon Ross — Aguilar def. Ross by KO (punch) at 0:17 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Kamuela Kirk vs. Esteban Ribovics — Ribovics def. Kirk by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
UFC 290 ‘PRELIMS’ PLAY-BY-PLAY RESULTS:
170 lbs.: Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price
Round one: Both whiff on big left hands early on. Price low kick, Lawler 2-3. They collide in the clinch and Lawler immediately goes to work, hammering Price with uppercuts and looping punches until he lands on the temple and immediately shuts off Price’s lights. Price goes down like his strings got cut and Lawler raises his arms, overcome with emotion as he ends his career with a walk-off knockout.
Final result: Lawler def. Price by KO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
130 lbs.: Edgar Chairez vs. Tatsuro Taira
Round one: Taira checks a leg kick and comes back with his own. Both men trading leg kicks. One minute in. Stiff jab by Chairez makes Taira bail on a level change. Taira pressing forward, feinting level changes. Low kick from Chairez knocks him over. Two minutes in. Big left hand by Chairez drops Tairez, who manages to wrap up half guard. Chairez makes the mistake of latching onto a guillotine, which allows Taira to sweep into half guard. Taira looking for a Von Flue choke against the fence. Chairez releases the grip, bit is still caught in a potential arm triangle with two minutes to go.
The fence is in the way, so Taira can’t pass to finish the choke. He abandons it with a minute to go, then pins down Chairez’s arm with his shin to drop elbows. Nice elbows from the pseudo-crucifix. Taira postures up and drops hard elbows. They look 12-6, but Herb Dean doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing or if he’s telling Taira to stop, so Taira just keeps striking and shrugs when the round ends. 10-9 Taira.
Round two: Taira shoots early and pops his head out of Chairez’s guillotine to settle on top in guard. Taira takes half guard, then looks for mount. Back to half guard. Two minutes in. Short elbows from Taira. More elbows, now a kimura attempt with two minutes to go.
Full mount for Taira. Solid punches and elbows. He’s fully postured, doing damage with a minute to go. Looking for an arm triangle, loses it, goes back to striking. Taira locks up a mounted triangle and falls back for it, but can’t force the tap before the bell. 10-8 Taira.
Round three: Stiff jab from Chairez. Taira body kick. Nice lead right met by a 2-3 from Chairez. One minute in. Taira picking at the lead leg. Jab and low kicks. Chairez left hook. Taira times one of Chairez’s low kicks and double-legs him to the mat two minutes in. Half guard for Taira. Short elbows. Two minutes to go.
Taira not super active from the top, but landing the occasional shot. He postures up for some better shots with a minute to go. Chairez trying to scoot to the fence and get to his seat. He makes it to his feet and jumps on another guillotine. This one’s actually tight, and he manages to take mount before the bell but fails to finish. 10-9 Taira.
Final result: Taira def. Chairez by unanimous decision
115 lbs.: Yazmin Jauregui vs. Denise Gomes
Round one: Gomes floors Jauregui with two vicious right hands inside the first 10 seconds, then hammers her with murderous punches until the ref intervenes.
Final result: Gomes def. Jauregui by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
205 lbs.: Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield
Round one: Solid low kick from Crute met by a straight right. Counter 1-2 knocks Crute over, but he pops back up. One minute in. Very tentative start on both sides. Crute’s throwing naked low kicks and Menifield’s looking to counter. Lead right by Menifield. Crute shoots, denied, taken to the fence. Jockeying for position. Two minutes in. Knees to the body from Crute. Continuing to spin around, Crute landing knees to the body as they do. Two minutes to go.
Elbow from Menifield, more knees from Crute. Crute considers a guillotine, no dice. More knees by Crute. Menifield separates and lands some heavy punches before tying back up. Crute changes levels, denied. One minute to go. More knees to the body. Sneaky knee upstairs. More knees to the body. 10-9 Crute.
Round two: Short left hook from Menifield to start. 1-2s falling short. Solid counter jabs. One minute in. Neither man committing to much. There’s a hard 3-2 by Menifield, but Crute takes him down with a double-leg. Menifield quickly gets to his feet, then wraps up a guillotine, wrenching Crute down into side control to force the tap.
Final result: Menifield def. Crute by submission (guillotine choke) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
205 lbs.: Vitor Petrino vs. Marcin Prachnio
Round one: Low kick and 2-3 land for Prachnio, who’s looking for combos early. Nice body shot and uppercut. Nasty right hand prompts Petrino to tie up and put him on the fence. One minute in. Knees from Prachnio, glancing left on the exit. Stiff jab. Petrino triples up on head kicks, then catches Prachnio coming in with a left hook that has him backing down. Petrino follows with a right cross and changes levels two minutes in. Big lift and slam into guard. Prachnio kicks him off and puts him on the fence with two minutes to go.
Knees to the thigh from Prachnio. They separate 20 seconds later. Low kick and flurry by Prachnio. Petrino wading after him, eats a two-piece. One minute to go. Heavy body kicks by Petrino, then a stiff jab and a takedown into half guard. 10-9 Prachnio.
Round two: Prachnio just misses with a wheel kick. He ties up, but gets slung to the mat, where Petrino drops some solid punches from guard. One minute in. More ground-and-pound from Petrino, who moves to half guard. Looking to attack the far arm. He’s got a kimura grip two minutes in, but he doesn’t really have the angle for it. Prachnio banging away with arm punches and Petrino ultimately relents. Short elbows with two minutes to go.
Petrino looks for the mount, then the back. Hunting the RNC, not quite under the chin. Prachnio manages to turn and regain half guard with a minute to go. Hard elbows by Petrino. He settles for heavy shoulder pressure until the bell. 10-9 Petrino.
Round three: Prachnio still throwing kicks but there’s not a ton of steam left. Petrino tries a jump knee. Stiff jab. Heavy low kick by Prachnio, who walks into another stiff jab and check hook. Uppercut-hook from Petrino a minute in. Prachnio tries a flurry, stumbles back after kicking into a check. Petrino body kick. Prachnio staying body with punches. Easy double-leg by Petrino puts him in half guard two minutes in. Short ground-and-pound from Petrino, who takes mount with two minutes to go.
Petrino drops a few punches before wrapping up an arm triangle, which forces a tap soon after.
Final result: Petrino def. Prachnio by submission (arm triangle choke)
135 lbs.: Terrence Mitchell vs. Cameron Saaiman
Round one: Mitchell shoots in the opening 10 seconds, only to get caught in a guillotine. Saaiman uses it to stand, but a misstep allows Mitchell to take him back down into guard. Saaiman trying to bring his guard up a minute in. The armbar’s not there, but he uses it to sweep into top guard. Mitchell uses an underhook to stand, then ends up on his back in the scramble. Solid upkicks before he rolls to his knees and stands. Hard knee by Saaiman in the clinch two minutes in. More knees against the fence. He spins Mitchell down with a body lock and looks for the back. Left hands landing. Second hook in and he flattens Mitchell out before pounding him into submission.
Final result: Saaiman def. Mitchell by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
125 lbs.: Jesus Aguilar vs. Shannon Ross
Round one: Aguilar lands a low kick, Ross answers with a body kick, and Aguilar responds by utterly annihilating Ross with an overhand right from Hell. Ross goes down in a heap and Aguilar has both his first career knockout and a guaranteed spot on highlight reels for years to come.
Final result: Aguilar def. Ross by KO (punch) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
155 lbs.: Kamuela Kirk vs. Esteban Ribovics
Round one: Early reactive shot from Kirk to land on top. Half guard. One minute in. Ribovics tries to bridge and Kirk moves right to his back. Looking for the RNC, got it on the chin, can’t polish it off. Two minutes in. Short shots from Kirk, but Ribovics’ defense is holding up. Two minutes to go.
More control from Kirk. One minute to go. Kirk tries to flatten him out, settles for mount, looking for an arm triangle in the final seconds. No damage, so 10-9 Kirk.
Round two: 1-2 from Kirk to answer a leg kick. Kirk leg kick, Ribovics head kick. Big flurry from Ribovics against the fence. Ribovics goes southpaw, lands some solid combos. Kirk to the body a minute in. He ties up after avoiding a head kick, but it’s Ribovics who hits a takedown. Ribovics lets him up and Kirk immediately pursues with a flying knee and head kick. Front kick from Kirk, left hook by Ribovics. Ribovics to the body. Two minutes in. Kirk changes levels after eating a combo, lands punches on the break. He shoots again, denied again, and Ribovics exits with a back elbow. Kirk 1-2. Trading hands in the center, favoring Kirk. Big combo by Ribovics. Two minutes to go.
Kirk rips a body shot, follows with a right hand upstairs. Both landing hard combinations. As they trade, a looping right from Ribovics catches Kirk on the temple and takes out his legs. Ribovics shoves him to the mat and starts bombing away. Kirk ties up with a minute to go and Ribovics waves him back to the feet. Kirk trying to put together combos but gets dropped again by a left hand. They’re trading heat but it’s Ribovics with all the momentum. Kirk shoots, denied. Ribovics blasting away against the fence. What a round. 10-9 Ribovics.
Round three: Ribovics catches Kirk with a low blow in the opening seconds. Kirk takes time to recover, then they go back to trading. Solid body and leg shots from Kirk. He shoots, denied. Head kick by Ribovics. He overthrows a left hook and Kirk ducks it to take him down into half guard a minute in. Kirk nearly takes mount, settles for guard. Ribovics scoots to the fence and stands two minutes in, separating soon after. He gets right back to marching after Kirk with heavy punches. Kirk shoots, denied, lands a right hand. Ribovics immediately denies another, cracks him with an elbow, and goes back to throwing punches. Nice body shot. Head kick from Ribovics, then a huge right hand behind it. Kirk changes levels for a takedown with two minutes to go.
Ribovics quickly gets to his feet, then denies another level change and reverses on the fence. Spinning elbow whiffs on the break. Nasty body shots from Ribovics. Kirk shoots, Ribovics limp-legs out. Huge left with a minute to go. Ribovics sprawls on another shot and hammers Kirk from the top. Kimura attempt, then a whizzer to stay standing and blast Kirk on the way up. Uppercut by Ribovics, who shoots and looks for the back. Big knee to the body, then some more punches as Kirk wades in. 10-9 Ribovics.
Final result: Ribovics def. Kirk by unanimous decision
Remember: MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 290’s entire five-fight PPV main card RIGHT HERE, beginning at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 290: “Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
