Who won the UFC fight tonight?
UFC put on their first pay-per-view of the second half of 2023 with UFC 290. The T-Mobile Arena witnessed several upsets up and down the card, a new chapter in the story of Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja, as well as the unification of the featherweight titles to crown one undisputed 145-pound champion.
With UFC 290 officially done and dusted, the event is now in the history books. The major event offering was the first of two this July from the promotion, with UFC 291 coming at the end of July. Here are all the results from the night, including the winners.
UFC 290 Full Results
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez
The UFC 290 card would be headlined by a stellar match-up between featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, and the interim champion of the division, Yair Rodriguez. This fight would crown the undisputed champion of the 145-pounders, and both Volkanovski and Rodriguez were determined to claim that spot. 'The Great' put on a performance of top-grade grappling, maintaining the dominant position over Rodriguez. On the feet, 'El Pantera' looked to deliver the quick-paced shots he had become synonymous with but Volkanovski countered and unloaded a barrage of strikes to get the TKO finish and retain his spot at the apex of the 145-pound division. Fellow fighters and fight fans alike are in agreeance on Volkanovski's status as the best featherweight in the world right now.
Result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Yair Rodriguez via TKO - Round 3
Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja
The highly-anticipated rematch between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja was filled with tension. Moreno and Pantoja are no strangers to each other, having met two times prior to this, with Pantoja coming out the victor both times. This time, the ante was upped as 'The Assassin Baby' would walk into the octagon as the flyweight champion. Pantoja immediately looked to end things quickly but the champion would not go down easy, and the two went the distance switching between striking and grappling. The judges found themselves with a split decision, which would shift the 125-pound rankings as Pantoja was crowned the new UFC flyweight champion.
Result: Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Moreno via split decision (48-47 Pantoja, 49-46 Moreno, 48-47 Pantoja)
Robert Whittaker vs. Dricus du Plessis
The title eliminator between Robert Whittaker and Dricus du Plessis for middleweight gold had all the stakes attached to it. With the winner of this bout being next in line for a title shot, both 'The Reaper' and 'Stillknocks' were highly motivated. The first round started with both middleweights trading offense and looking to do some damage to the other. In the second round, du Plessis caught Whittaker and remained relentless in his attack, all the way to the TKO finish. With this win, du Plessis now finds himself firmly placed right in front of the champion, Israel Adesanya, with the opportunity to make history as the first ever South African UFC champion.
Result: Dricus du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker via TKO - Round 2
Jalin Turner vs. Dan Hooker
Both being ranked in the lightweight division, Jalin Turner and Dan Hooker looked to move up in the rankings with a noteworthy performance. From the first round, it was a highly-contested affair with the pair matching each other's efforts. The second round saw Turner turn up the pressure whilst the third was Hooker's. Despite their opponent's offense, the two kept fighting and it ultimately came down to the judges. Much like the fans, the judges were split but 'The Hangman' ultimately came out on top.
Result: Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner via split decision (29-28 Hooker, 29-28 Turner, 29-28 Hooker)
Bo Nickal vs. Val Woodburn
Standout wrestling-turned-MMA-professional Bo Nickal had a short-notice replacement opponent in the determined debutant, Val Woodburn. With his stellar performances since he switched to MMA, Bo Nickal walked into the octagon a massive favorite against his opponent with the greatest waging disparity of the event. Nickal showed off his versatility by moving away from his preferred wrestling methods to deliver a sequence of strikes on the fee to get the KO finish. In one of the most exciting divisions in the UFC, Nickal will surely be looking to move into the 185-pound rankings sooner rather than later.
Result: Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn via KO - Round 1
Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price
Regardless of the outcome, this fight was always going to be quite an emotional one as Robbie Lawler took to the octagon for the final time in his career. His opponent would be Niko Price who, himself, had quite a bit to prove as he looked to bounce back and be a talking point in the welterweight division. Lawler went out with a bang by flooring Price in under a minute, and the T-Mobile Arena collectively applauded and cheered at the sight. It was a great showing from the veteran Robbie Lawler as he put on his classic 'Ruthless' performance one final time.
Result: Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via KO - Round 1
Tatsuro Taira vs. Edgar Chairez
The catchweight bout between Tatsuro Taira and Edgar Chairez took place at 130-pounds. Taira primarily controlled the first two rounds but, by the time the third round came around, Chairez challenged Taira and locked in a guillotine choke which threatened all of Taira's earlier efforts. The final horn went off and the decision would come down to the three judges, who all agreed it was Taira's night and he maintains his undefeated status.
Result: Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Yazmin Jauregui vs. Denise Gomes
The sole women's fight on the card would be the strawweight showdown between Yazmin Jauregui and Denise Gomes. Both fighters had quite a bit to prove but Jauregui was the favourite walking into the octagon. Gomes stunned everyone and pulled a major upset at the expense of Jauregui's previously undefeated record with a TKO finish just 20 seconds into the fight. At just 23-years-old, Gomes has commanded the attention of the entire strawweight division.
Result: Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui via TKO - Round 1
Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield
Jimmy Crute and Alonzo Menifield previosuly met earlier in the year at UFC 284, with that bout ending in a majority draw decision. The two decided to instantly rematch at UFC 290 and the first round had shades of their first encounter. In the second round, Menifield lived up to his nickname as 'Atomic' when he evaded a double-leg takedown attempt and popped back up to catch Crute in a Guillotine Choke. Menifield now looks to get himself back on track en-route the light heavyweight division's top 15.
Result: Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute via Submission - Round 2
Vitor Petrino vs. Marcin Prachnio
Vitor Petrino is still finding his feet within the UFC and hoped to secure another win, this time against the veteran, Marcin Prachnio. The two traded on the feet for the first round before switching over to grappling for the rest of the fight. This ultimately paid off for Petrino as he cinched in a Head & Arm Choke to get the submission in the third round, and he raises his stock in the light heavyweight division.
Result: Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio via Submission - Round 3
Cameron Saaiman vs. Terrence Mitchell
South Africa's Cameron Saaiman was hopeful to get his third straight victory in the UFC, keeping his undefeated record intact against Alaska's Terence Mitchell, who would have this as his UFC debut. Though Mitchell was looking to pull an upset against Saaiman, 'MSP' quickly dominated and overwhelmed the debutant. Saaiman walked away with the TKO finish inside the first round, continuing his rise through the UFC's bantamweight division.
Result: Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell via TKO - Round 1
Shannon Ross vs. Jesus Aguilar
The clash between Shannon Ross and Jesus Aguilar at flyweight turned things up quite a notch. Just as soon as the fight started, it was all over as Aguilar delivered a jaw-dropping walk-off right hand KO. Within 17 seconds, Ross was sent to the canvas and Aguilar put himself right in contention for a performance bonus.
Result: Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross via KO - Round 1
Kamuela Kirk vs. Esteban Ribovics
Lightweight action opened up the night, as Kamuela Kirk and Esteban Ribovics put on a full three-round war. Kirk controlled the first round but, by the time the second round rolled around, Ribovics shifted momentum his way. The third round was anyone's to take and the Argentine Ribovics capitalized to ultimately get the nod from all three judges. This marks Ribovics' first victory within the promotion since his debut in March.
Result: Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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