From the opening bell, it was clear that both fighters had come to win. Rodriguez, known for his unorthodox striking style, was looking to use his length and reach advantage to keep Volkanovski at bay. Meanwhile, the champion was looking to close the distance and take the fight to the ground where he could utilize his grappling skills.
The first round was a close affair, with both fighters landing significant strikes. Rodriguez was able to land some impressive kicks to the body and legs, while Volkanovski was able to land some powerful punches and a takedown towards the end of the round.
In the second round, Volkanovski started to take control of the fight. He was able to get Rodriguez to the ground early in the round and was able to keep him there for the majority of the round. Volkanovski landed some heavy ground and pound strikes, but Rodriguez was able to survive until the end of the round.
Going into the third round, it was clear that Rodriguez needed to do something big to turn the tide of the fight. However, it was Volkanovski who came out swinging. He landed a big right hand that stunned Rodriguez and followed up with a flurry of punches that forced the referee to step in and stop the fight.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:26 of the third round, and Alexander Volkanovski was declared the winner by TKO. With this victory, Volkanovski successfully defended his featherweight title for the fourth time and cemented his status as one of the best fighters in the world.
After the fight, Volkanovski said, "I knew I had to finish him in the third round. I could feel that I was starting to wear him down, and I knew that if I kept pushing the pace, I would be able to get the finish. Yair is a tough fighter, but I was able to get the job done."
For Rodriguez, it was a disappointing loss, but he showed a lot of heart and determination in the fight. He said, "I came in here to win, but Volkanovski was just too good tonight. He was able to get the takedowns and land some big shots, and I couldn't recover. I'll be back, though. This isn't the end for me."
Overall, UFC 290 was a night full of exciting fights and memorable moments, but it was the main event that stole the show. With his third-round TKO victory, Alexander Volkanovski proved once again why he is one of the best fighters in the world and a worthy champion of the featherweight division.