Volkanovski Beats Rodriguez With 3rd-Round TKO for Featherweight Title in UFC 290

Alexander Volkanovski reacts after defeating Yair Rodríguez during a featherweight mixed martial arts bout during UFC 290 in Las Vegas on July 8, 2023. Wade Vandervort/Las Vegas Sun via AP

LAS VEGAS—After briefly flirting with the lightweight division, Alexander Volkanovski returned to featherweight and showed Saturday night why he’s still the best in that weight.

Volkanovski re-asserted himself as the champion with a technical knockout over Yair Rodriguez at 4:19 of the third round in UFC 290.