For all of your UFC 290 betting needs, SBS has you covered with our stellar preview and prediction article right here. In the main event of the night, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski locks horns with interim title holder Yair Rodríguez to see who will come out as the undisputed champion. Meanwhile, the UFC Flyweight Championship will be on the line as two-time title holder Brandon Moreno looks to avenge prior losses to Alexandre Pantoja in what should be a blistering battle. The former has never beaten the latter in a fight (official or exhibition) so this could perhaps be the night he slays the dragon.
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each fighter, a predicted winner in the two main event bouts, and also more notes about UFC 290 betting.
| UFC 290 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Vokanovski (c) vs. Yair Rodriguez (ic) | Volkanovski | -400 | -400 | -400 |
| Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Moreno (c) | Moreno | -200 | -200 | -200 |
Fighter Spotlight: Alexander Volkanovski
A fighter that has dominated the UFC Featherweight division, he is coming off a hard-fought battle against Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. While he fell to the UFC Lightweight Champion, Volkanovski is still the title holder in the featherweight division and has not lost in that weight class in his career. His only other loss came as a welterweight during the beginning stages of his career in 2013. With 12 career knockout wins along with 10 decision victories, Volkanovski overwhelms fighters with his fantastic wrestling technique and blistering power.
Fighter Spotlight: Yair Rodríguez
On the opposite side of the ring from Volkanovski will be Rodríguez who just recently won the interim UFC Featherweight Championship over Josh Emmett. In a Performance of the Night showing, Rodríguez was able to upend Emmett with a triangle choke submission in the second round. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America tournament, the 30-year-old has won numerous fights in spectacular fashion (he has notched a grand total of nine Fight of the Night/Performance of the Night outings). This will be his second fight in 2023 and perhaps the biggest bout in his career to date.
Prediction: A battle that should go the distance, take Volkanovski to win here as his featherweight division dominance should continue.
Fighter Spotlight: Brandon Moreno
The current UFC Flyweight Champion, Moreno is also one of the top fighters in the UFC pound-for-pound as well, being recognized with a top ten ranking earlier this year. Moreno is coming off back-to-back resounding wins over the likes of long-time rival Deiveson Figueiredo (TKO, doctor stoppage) and also Kai Kara-France (TKO, body kick and punches) when he won the interim UFC Flyweight Championship last July. With 11 career submission wins, the Mexican fighter can surely win in a variety of ways if given the opportunity.
Fighter Spotlight: Alexandre Pantoja
Currently recognized as the No. 2 fighter in the UFC flyweight rankings, Pantoja is an established UFC veteran with a career record of 25-5. He is coming off back-to-back Performance of the Night outings where he won via submission over Alex Perez (neck crank) and Brandon Royval (rear-naked choke). Pantoja also has defeated Moreno twice before, first in an exhibition on The Ultimate Fighter in 2016 which Pantoja won by second-round submission. They also squared off later in 2018 in a bout that the Brazilian fighter won via unanimous decision.
Prediction: While Pantoja certainly seems to have Moreno’s number with two prior victories, this will be the fight in which Moreno gets things right and knocks off his rival.
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About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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