LAS VEGAS – UFC 290 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results.
UFC 290 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
The main event is a featherweight title fight between champion Alexander Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and interim champ Yair Rodriguez (16-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC). They meet in a title unification bout. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (21-6-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC), who is in his second reign as titleholder, takes on challenger Alexandre Pantoja (25-5 MMA, 9-3 UFC).
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6 p.m. ET for the early prelims on ESPN+, 8 p.m. for the prelims on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+, and 10 p.m. ET for the main card on pay-per-view. You also can get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporters Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn ) on Twitter. and Ken Hathaway (@kenshathaway ) on Twitter.
Enjoy the fights, everyone.
Kamuela Kirk vs. Esteban Ribovics
Round 1 – Right away, Kirk shoots and gets a takedown. He’s working from half guard. They scramble and Kirk takes the back. Kirk working a rear-naked choke. Three minutes left. Ribovics doing a good job surviving, but not doing anything to escape the position. Two minutes left. Kirk landing some ground-and-pound, but nothing major. One minute left. Kirk gets mount now. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Kirk.
Round 2 – Ribovics comes out aggressive. He partly connetcs with a heah kick and then a combo. Oh! Clean right hand by Ribovics! Kirk eats it well. They clinch and Ribovics gets the takedown. Kirk scrambles back to his feet. Three minutes left. Good combo by Ribovics. Kirk shoots for a takedown and Ribovics stuffs it. Again. His takedown defense looking better. Good upper cut and right hand by Kirk. And a nasty body shot by Kirk. A couple of good hooks wobble Kirk! Ribovics all over him! Kirk goes down. Big shots from top by Ribovics. One minute left. Kirk is bleeding from his mouth. Ribovics gets up and the fight resumes on the feet. Kirk goes down again, but gets back up. Ribovics all over him. What a chin on Kirk. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Ribovics.
Round 3 – A low blow lands for Ribovics. The fight is paused. After 40 seconds, it resumes. Hard leg kick by Ribovics. Good jab by Kirk. Head kick lands by Ribovics! Kirk gets a takedown by the fence and moves to half guard. Ribovics recovers guard in a scramble. Three minutes left. Ribovics gets back up at the fence, but with Kirk still tied to him. Ribovics breaks a free. Ribovics stuffs a takedown attempt from Kirk. Big head kick by Ribovics. Right hand by Ribovics. Kirk shoots and gets a takedown. Ribovics almost immediately back up, but has Kirk pressing him. Ribovics breaks free. Nasty body shots by Ribovics. Kirk looks tired. Kirk shoots for a takedown, they scramble, and Ribovics gets back to his feet. And a takedown by Ribovics. They get back up again and the bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Ribovics. Overall 29-27, Ribovics.
Result: Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Esteban Ribovics (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Kamuela Kirk (12-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Judging: Sal D’Amato, Chris Lee, Ron McCarthy 29-28.
Jesus Aguilar vs. Shannon Ross
Round 1 – Leg kick by Aguilar. Oh! Monster right-hand knocks Ross out cold. What a shot. Unreal.
Result: Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross via KO (punch) – Round 1, 0:17
Recap: Jesus Aguilar starches Shannon Ross in 17 seconds
Photos: Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Jesus Aguilar (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Shannon Ross (13-8 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Terrence Mitchell vs. Cameron Saaiman
Round 1 – Early shot from Mitchell. He takes down Saaiman, but gets caught in a guillotine. It looks deep! Mitchell gets out and ends on top. He’s working from guard. Saaiman working the high guard. Saaiman attempts an armbar. He fails, but reverses the position. They’re back on the feet, but Saaiman pressing Micthell against the cage. Saaiman takes down Mitchell. Two minutes left. Saaiman takes the back and begins to rain shots on Micthell. And it’s over! Mitchell was unable to get out and the referee stopped the action.
Result: Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell via TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 1, 3:10
Recap: South Africa’s Cameron Saaiman makes quick work of Terrence Mitchell
Photos: Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Cameron Saaiman (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Terrence Mitchell (15-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Vitor Petrino vs. Marcin Prachnio
Round 1 – A couple of leg kicks land early for Prachnio. He’s on the outside taking angles, while Petrino chases. Big right hand by Prachnio! Petrino eats it well, closes the distance and presses Prachnio against the cage. Prachnio breaks free. Oh! And Petrino stuns Prachnio with a big shot. He closes the distance and takes down Prachnio. Petrino working from guard, some big shots. Prachnio gets up and he presses Petrino against the cage. They’re back to striking range. Big body kicks by Petrino. And Petrino with a takedown. Petrino ends the round on top.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Petrino.
Round 2 – Good combo by Prachnio. And Petrino gets a takedown here. Good control here by Petrino. He advances to hald guard. Prachnio landing some shots from bottom, but nothing big. No damage. Three minutes left. Petrino working a kimura! It looks tight. He lets it go and advance to mount. Petrino now gets back mount. One minute left. Petrino working the rear-naked choke, but Prachnio gets out. Petrino end the round on top.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Petrino.
Round 3 – Good jab by Petrino. Prachnio with a hard leg kick. Petrino with a good left. Prachnio with a good combo. They trade shots, but neither is landing very clean. And Petrino gets the takedown. Good elbows from top by Petrino. And Petrino gets mount. Prachnio no where close to getting out. Petrino sinks in an arm triangle! There’s the tap! It’s over.
Result: Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio via submission (arm triangle) – Round 3, 3:42
Recap: Vitor Petrino scores first-career submission over Marcin Prachnio
Photos: Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Vitor Petrino (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Marcin Prachnio (16-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Goddard
Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield
Round 1 – Big leg kick by Crute. Menifield answers with one of his own. Clean one, two by Menifield! They clinch against the fence and keep trading positions. They keep swapping control positions against the cage. Two minutes left. They break and the two brawl it out! Big shots by Menifield! Menifield closes the distance and presses Crute back against the cage. Crute reverses the position. They keep switing positions until the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Menifield.
Round 2 – Good jabs by Menifield. It seems Menifield is just a bit ahead in the striking. Big right hand by Menifield! Crute shoots for a takedown, briefly gets it, but Menifield gets back up. Crute still working on a takedown. And Crute gets caught in a guillotine. Menifield gets the tap! It’s over.
Result: Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 1:55
Recap: Alonzo Menifield wins Jimmy Crute rematch with lightning-quick choke
Photos: Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Alonzo Menifield (14-3-1 MMA, 7-3-1 UFC), Jimmy Crute (12-4-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Denise Gomes vs. Yazmin Jauregui
Round 1 – WOW! Huge right-hand rocks Jauregui. Gomes all over her! It’s over. What an upset by Gomes.
Result: Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:20
Recap: Denise Gomes hands Yazmin Jauregui first career loss with fastest finish in UFC strawweight history
Photos: Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Denise Gomes (8-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Yazmin Jauregui (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Edgar Chairez vs. Tatsuro Taira
Round 1 – Both trade hard leg kicks. Another leg kick by Taira. So far, very low output from both. Good left hand by Chairez. More leg kicks by Taira. They’re adding up. And Chairez sweeps Taira with a leg kicks and lets him back up. And Chairez rocks Taira! He’s down. Chairez sinks in a guillotine choke! Taira moves to half guard and looks like he’s fine. Two minutes left. `Taira keeping top position but no damage. One minute left. Good elbows by Taira. The bell rings. Tough round to score.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Taira.
Round 2 – Good leg kicks by Chairez. And Taira shoots for a takedown, Chairez drops for the guillotine choke, but Taira immediately gets out. Taira working from top. Not much ground-and-pound. He’s just looking to advance positions. Taira moves to half guard. A couple of shots here and there by Taira. Good elbows by Taira. Two minutes left. Taira moves to full mount. More elbows by Taira. From mount, Taira locks a triangle choke and drops to his back! It’s tight. And the bell rings!
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-8, Taira.
Round 3 – They trade leg kicks. Clean right hand by Taira. Good jabs by Taira. Moreleg kicks by Taira. Tara shoots a double leg and gets the takedown. Good contril here by Taira. Chairez with little answers for the Japanese fighter. Two minutes left. Some shots from top by Taira, but very little damage. Chairez goes for the guillotine! It looks tight! Taira rolls over and gives up top position. The bell rings! That was close.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Taira. Overall 30-26, Taira.
Result: Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Photos: Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Tatsuro Taira (14-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Edgar Chairez (10-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Herb Dean
Judging: Adalaide Byrd, Ben Cartlidge, Derek Cleary 29-27.
Robbie Lawler vs. Niko Price
Round 1 – They touch gloves and the fight is on. Good staright left a and right hook by Lawler. They clinch and Lawler connects with a few rapid shots! Price goes down! It’s over. WHAT A KO!
Result: Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via KO (punches) – Round 1, 0:38
Recap: Robbie Lawler scores 38-second knockout of Niko Price in emotional last MMA bout
Photos: Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Robbie Lawler (30-16 MMA, 15-10 UFC), Niko Price (15-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN/ESPN+
Referee: Marc Goddard
Bo Nickal vs. Val Woodburn
Round 1 – Nickal with a lot of faints here. Big right hand connects for Nickal. Another one! Woodburn is stunned, bad! Another bomb by Nickal! And Woodburn goes down! It’s over. Unreal.
Result: Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:38
Recap: Bo Nickal remains unbeaten, TKO’s Val Woodburn in 38 seconds
Photos: Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Bo Nickal (5-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Val Woodburn (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Chris Tognoni
Dan Hooker vs. Jalin Turner
Round 1 – Turner chasing Dan Hooker. Turner with a few good leg kicks. Welp, there goes a low blow from Hooker’s part. The fight is paused. Turner rcovers after a minute and the fight resumes. Left hand and left high kick connect for Turner. Spinning body kick by Turner. Clean left by Turner. Hooker is having a tough time landing. Two minutes left. Good leg kicks by Hooker. Good left hook by hooker followed by a leg kick. Tuner with a left hand. Turner lands a nice combo, rushes in and gets clipped clean by Hooker. He eats the shot well. Nice body kick by Hooker. These two are trading big. Nice fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Turner.
Round 2 – Good left hook by Hooker. Agai, same dynamic here: Turner presses, while Hooker stays on the outside. Hooker is showing some damage on his face now. Turner seems to be a bit more precise, but Hooker is also getting his shots in. Not too far behind. OH! Clean head kick wobbles Hooker! Turner all over him. Right hand by Turner! Hooker is bleeding from his nose and forehead. It seems he’s recovered but not 100 percent. Turner pacing himself. Big counter right hand by Turner. Hooker with a good combo. Hooker pressing more now. One minute left. Oh! Hooker stuns Turner! Turner is hurt. Hooker all ovetr him. Nice shots by Hooker! And Tuner goes down! Hooker follows him. Hooker sinks in a rear-naked choke, but bell rings. WOW.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Hooker.
Round 3 – Turner is not 100 percent. And Hooker stuns him again. Turner recovers and he now presses. Good combo by Turner! This is insane. These two are just trading big shot one after another. Now Hooker is the one pressing with shots. Turner shoots and gets the takedown. Turner is exhausted. Hooker pushes him off. Back to standing. Hooker all over Turner. Turner goes down. Hooker on top landing ground-and-pound. Three minutes left. Hooker working from guard. Hooker is landing shots but nothing huge. One minute left. Turner gets up and lands a body kick. The bell rings. Ridiculous fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Hooker. Overall 29-28.
Result: Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Recap: Dan Hooker rallies to beat Jalin Turner in grueling, frantic brawl
Photos: Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Dan Hooker (23-12 MMA, 13-8 UFC), Jalin Turner (13-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
Division: 158-pound catchweight (Turner missed weight)
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging: Derek Cleary, Ron McCarthy 29-28. Adalaide Byrd 28-29.
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Robert Whittaker
Round 1 – Clean jab and right hand by Whittaker. Du Plessis is pressing Whittaker, but has yet to connect clean. Clean, clean jabs by Whittaker. Jab by Whittaker and then a blast double! Whittaker advances to side control. And Du Plessis does a good job at getting back up and the fight resumes on the feet. Big right hook by Whittaker. Good combo by Du Plessis. Two minutes left. Du Plessis swinging big, but hasn’t been able to connect flush on Whittaker. They clinch and Du Plessis gets a takedown. Good elbows from top by Du Plessis. Good ground-and-pound by Du Plessis. Nasty elbow by Du Plessis! Whittaker is sliced open. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Du Plessis.
Round 2 – Big right hook for Whittaker. Good jabs by Whittaker. Du Plessis pressing Whittaker and having a bit more sucess than the first round. Oh! Du Plessis knocks down Whittaker! Whittaker is hurt bad! Du Plessis all over him! It’s over! What an upset.
Result: Dricus Du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:23
Recap: Dricus Du Plessis TKOs Robert Whittaker, has intense faceoff with Israel Adesanya
Photos: Dricus Du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Dricus Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC), Robert Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Marc Goddard
Brandon Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja
Round 1 – They immediately clinch! Moreno presses Pantoja against the cage. Moreno with complete control here. Good positioning here from Moreno. They break away and Moreno lands a clean combo. Again. Crazy speed by Moreno. Oh! And Pantoja drops Moreno with a left hand! Pantoja jumps on him and lads a few hard elbows. Moreno is bleeding. Two minutes left. Moreno gets up. Crazy fight here. Uppercut from Moreno. Big left hook by Pantoja. Lag kick by Pantoja. Moreno crips with the jab. Moreno catches a kick and brings down Pantoja. They scramble. Back to the feet. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Pantoja.
Round 2 – Wild striking from Pantoja! These two are swinging! jabs by Moreno snap back Pantoja’s head. More jabs by Moreno. Crazy pace. Moreno getting Pantoja’s distance now, and he’s picking him apart. They scramble and Moreno takes his back! Three minutes left. Good control here by Moreno, but little damage. Pantoja scrambles out of back mount, but Moreno still on top. Two minutes left. They’re back up. Moreno with good shots here. Pantoja seems to be fading. One minute left. More jabs by Moreno. Left by Pantoja. They brawl it out till the bell. Wild fight.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Moreno.
Round 3 – They clinch and Pantoja connects with a low blow. The fight is paused. Moreno recovers in just a few seconds and fight resumes. Pantoja closes the distance, takes Moreno down, and gets the back. Pantoja desperately looking for the rear-naked choke. Moreno scrambles out! Three minutes left. He stands up and the fight is back to striking. Nasty jabs by Pantoja. Oh! Big head kick by Moreno! These two are going toe to toe. Another head kick! Pantoja is stunned. Pantoja presses Moreno against the cage. And Pantoja gets the takedown. Pantoja advances to side control. He loses the position and is on bottom. Ground-and-pound from both Moreno and Pantoja. This is crazy. They’re back up. Great exchanges. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Moreno.
Round 4 – Nasty combos by Moreno. My God, the toughness of Pantoja. They keep trading shots back and forth. Nasty elbow by Moreno. Pantoja gets a takedown. Moreno back to his feet, but Pantoja pressing him against the cage. Pantoja drags him back to the canvas. Moreno back to the feet, but Pantoja pressing against the cage. One minute left. Pure control here by Pantoja. Pantoja gets the fight back to the ground. Moreno reverses the position with 30 seconds left. They back up. Big elbow by Moreno before the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Pantoja.
Round 5 – What a crazy fight. Big left hook by Pantoja. Moreno pressing Pantoja hard here. And Moreno with a couple of hard left hooks. Clean jabs by Moreno. Big left by Moreno. Jabs by Moreno. Three minutes left. What a chin on both guys. And Pantoja scores a takedown. Moreno stands up, but Pantoja takes his back, while standing. Good control here by Pantoja. The bell rings. Tough fight to score.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Pantoja. Overall 48-47, Pantoja.
Result: Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Moreno via split decision – to win flyweight title (48-47, 48-47, 46-49)
Recap: Alexandre Pantoja defeats Brandon Moreno again – this time for gold
Photos: Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Moreno at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Alexandre Pantoja (26-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC), Brandon Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-4-2 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging: Derek Cleary, Junichiro Kamijo 48-47. Ben Cartlidge 49-46.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez
Round 1 – Both fighters very tentative here. Volkanovski chases, Rodriguez on the outside. They trade leg kicks. Body kick by Rodriguez. And Volkanovski gets a takedown. Three minutes left. Good shots from top by Volkanovski, but nothing big. Two minutes left. Short arm shots by Volkanovski. Rodriguez gets back up, but being pressed against the cage. Volkanovski takes Rodriguez back down. Ground-and-pound by Volkanovski. One minute left. Oh, oh! Volkanovski attempts an arm triangle, but Rodriguez defends and gets out. The bell rings.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Volkanovski.
Round 2 – Spinning kicks by Rodriguez get the crowd going! Nothing lands clean, though. Good leg kicks here by Rodriguez. Oh! Huge left-hand stuns Volkanovski.Volkanovski closes the distance and takes down Rodriguez. Rodriguez back up, but Volkanovski pressing him against the cage. Volkanovski gets the takedown. Three minutes left. Good ground-and-pound by Volkanovski. Rodriguez is cut by Volkanovski’s shots. Volkanovski in full control here. Rodriguez recovers guard. Good short shots by Volkanovski. One minute left. Volkanovski keeps top control and ground-and-pound until the bell.
MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9, Volkanovski.
Round 3 – Hard leg kicks by Rodriguez. More. Oblique kick by Rodriguez. Volkanovski staying very patient and moving foward. Three minutes left. Leg kicks by Volkanovski. Oh! Head kick by Rodriguez! That caught the attention of Volkanovski. More leg kicks from Rodriguez. Nasty body kick by Rodriguez. Volkanovski with a right hook. Leg kicks by Volkanovski. Two minutes left. An accidental headbutt from Volkanovski halts the fight. Rodriguez takes some time to recover and fight resumes. Rodriguez letting go his feet. Lands nasty kicks on Volkanovski. Oh, now Volkanovski rocks Rodriguez. Volkanovski gets the takedown. Crazy ground-and-pound by Volkanovski. It’s over! And still.
Result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Yair Rodriguez via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:19 – to defend featherweight title
Recap: Alexander Volkanovski unifys featherweight title with third-round TKO of Yair Rodriguez
Photos: Alexander Volkanovski def. Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290: Best photos
Records: Alexander Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC), Yair Rodriguez (16-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Herb Dean
