UFC 290 post-event facts: Alexandre Pantoja benefits from rare split decision title change
The UFC’s 11th annual International Fight Week closed on a memorable high Saturday with UFC 290, which took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
After a explosive and entertaining lead up to the night’s title fights, one belt stayed put while another changed hands.
In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) dismantled Yair Rodriguez (15-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) en route to a third-round TKO for his fifth featherweight title defense. The co-headliner saw Alexandre Pantoja (26-5 MMA, 10-3 UFC) capture the flyweight strap with a split decision win over Brandon Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) in a Fight of the Year contender.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 290.
Event stats
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UFC 290 was the first event in modern history with four sub-minute finishes.
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $319,500.
Pantoja, Moreno, Dricus Du Plessis and Denise Gomes earned $50,000 UFC 290 fight-night bonuses.
Debuting fighters went 0-3 on the card.
UFC 290 drew an announced attendance of 19,204 for a live gate of $9,750,000.
Betting favorites went 7-6 on the card.
Betting favorites improved to 15-8 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 13-bout card was 1:57:22.
Alexander Volkanovski def. Yair Rodriguez
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Volkanovski became the fourth fighter in UFC history to make an title defense after losing a championship bout, joining Israel Adesanya, Max Holloway and B.J. Penn. The group is 4-0.
Volkanovski’s six victories in UFC featherweight championship bouts are second-most in divisional history behind Jose Aldo (eight).
Volkanovski’s 11-fight UFC winning streak at featherweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Volkanovski has earned 16 of his 26 career victories by stoppage. He’s earned all five of his UFC finishes by knockout.
Rodriguez has suffered three of his four career losses by stoppage.
Rodriguez has suffered all three of his stoppage career losses by stoppage due to strikes.
Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Moreno
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Pantoja became the fifth undisputed UFC flyweight champion.
Pantoja became the fourth fighter in UFC history to force a title change by split decision. Robbie Lawler, Henry Cejudo and Carla Esparza also accomplished the feat.
Pantoja’s 10 victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Demetrious Johnson (13) and Joseph Benavidez (13).
Moreno fell to 6-2-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2019.
Moreno has suffered all seven of his career losses by decision.
Moreno’s seven fight-night bonuses for UFC flyweight bouts are second-most in divisional history behind Johnson (nine).
Dricus Du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker
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Du Plessis’ (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) six-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Du Plessis has earned 19 of his 20 career victories by stoppage.
Robert Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) fell to 12-3 since he moved up to the UFC middleweight division in November 2014.
Whittaker has suffered all three of his UFC stoppage losses by knockout.
Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner
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Dan Hooker (23-12 MMA, 13-8 UFC) improved to 2-0 since he returned to the lightweight division in November 2022.
Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn
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Bo Nickal (5-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned all five of his career victories by stoppage.
Val Woodburn (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) had his seven-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.
Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price
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Robbie Lawler (30-16 MMA, 15-10 UFC) retired from MMA competition after his win.
Lawler improved to 11-7 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2013.
Lawler’s seven knockout victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for the fifth-most in divisional history behind Matt Brown (13), Li Jingliang (eight), Vicente Luque (eight) and Thiago Alves (eight).
Lawler’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC welterweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Alves (13), Brown (11) and Jake Ellenberger (11).
Niko Price (15-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) has suffered six of his seven career losses by stoppage.
Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez
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Tatsuro Taira’s (14-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied with Amir Albazi and Muhammad Mokaev for the longest active streak in the division.
Edgar Chairez (10-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered three of his five career losses by decision.
Yazmin Jauregui vs. Denise Gomes
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Gomes (8-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has earned six of her eight career victories by stoppage. She’s finished both of her UFC wins by knockout.
Gomes’ 20-second knockout marked the fastest finish in UFC strawweight history.
Gomes’ two knockout victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Amanda Lemos (three) and Jessica Andrade (three).
Yazmin Jauregui (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) had her 10-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of her career.
Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute
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Alonzo Menifield (14-3-1 MMA, 7-3-1 UFC) has earned 13 of his 14 career victories by stoppage.
Menifield has earned all six of his UFC stoppage victories by stoppage.
Jimmy Crute’s (12-4-1 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC) four-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since October 2020.
Crute has suffered all four of his career losses by stoppage.
Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio
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Vitor Petrino (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned seven of his nine career victories by stoppage.
Petrino earned the first submission victory of his career.
Marcin Prachnio (16-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) has suffered four of his five UFC losses by stoppage.
Prachnio suffered the first submission loss of his career.
Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell
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Cameron Saaiman (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has earned seven of his nine career victories by stoppage.
Terrence Mitchell (14-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has earned two of his three career losses by stoppage.
Mitchell has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross
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Jesus Aguilar (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) earned the first knockout victory of his career.
Aguilar’s 17-second knockout marked the second-fastest finish in UFC flyweight history behind Dustin Ortiz’s 15-second win at UFC Fight Night 114.
Shannon Ross (12-8 MMA, 0-2 UFC) has suffered both of his UFC losses by knockout.
Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk
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Esteban Ribovics (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) earned the first decision victory of his career.
Kamuela Kirk (12-6 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered five of his six career losses by decision.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
