UFC 2023 23 2023-07-09 2023-07-09 https://r2.thesportsdb.com/images/media/event/thumb/gxu2ds1688764056.jpg https://r2.thesportsdb.com/images/media/event/poster/ul9ydz1688763579.jpg UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodríguez is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on July 8, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena facility in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. Background A UFC Featherweight Championship unification bout between current champion Alexander Volkanovski and interim champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America featherweight winner) Yair Rodríguez is expected to headline the event. A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current two-time champion Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja is expected to take place at the event. The pair first met in an exhibition bout on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions in 2016 which Pantoja won by second round submission. They also met at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman in 2018 which Pantoja won by unanimous decision. A UFC Middleweight title eliminator between former champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) Robert Whittaker and former KSW Welterweight Champion Dricus du Plessis is scheduled for the event. Former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler will take on Niko Price in a welterweight bout at the event, in what is expected to be his retirement fight. A lightweight bout between Jalin Turner and Dan Hooker is expected to take place at the event. They were previously scheduled to meet at UFC 285 but Hooker withdrew due to injury. A flyweight bout between former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and former Rizin Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape was expected to take place at the event. However, Figueiredo withdrew in late April after he was not medically cleared to compete. The UFC officially cancelled the bout on May 13 after it was announced that Figueiredo would be moving to the bantamweight divison. It is currently unknown if a replacement opponent will be sought by the promotion. 1810439