Alexander Volkanovski will attempt to extend his dominant run as featherweight champion on Saturday when he takes on top-rated challenger Yair Rodriguez in the main event of UFC 290. The five-round title fight closes the curtain on a jam-packed main UFC 290 fight card starting at 10 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Volkanovski has only lost two MMA fights in his career and both came in divisions other than featherweight, including his failed attempt in February to become a two-division champion with a loss to Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. Volkanovski is 12-0 at featherweight in the UFC, a stretch that has seen him capture the crown and defend it four times. The explosive Rodriguez will make his first title-fight appearances.
Volkanovski is a -400 favorite (risk $400 to win $100), while Rodriguez comes back at +310 in the latest UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez from Caesars Sportsbook. The co-main event features another title fight as flyweight king Brandon Moreno (-190) faces No. 2-ranked Alexandre Pantoja. Before making any UFC picks of your own for UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez, make sure you check out the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Daniel Vithlani.
Vithlani is a highly analytical UFC bettor who profited more than $6,200 for $100 bettors in 2022. This includes a documented 24-14 record on his well-respected, two-leg parlays. Every pick was documented on his public Instagram account.
From breaking down film and following fighters and their camps closely, to tracking sharp action and betting market signals, Vithlani covers the breadth of the MMA betting landscape top to bottom. He also trains amateur boxers and speaks regularly with MMA fighters to understand the sport’s nuances.
In his SportsLine debut for UFC 283 in January, Vithlani swept the main card and his MMA predictions included telling SportsLine members to back Jamahal Hill (-125) against Glover Teixeira (+105) for the vacant light heavyweight title in the main event. Anyone who has followed him has seen massive returns.
Now, with UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez on deck, Vithlani has scoured the UFC card from top to bottom and released his top selections. You can only see those picks at SportsLine.
UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez preview
In a relatively short span, Volkanovski (25-2) has emerged from a little-known contender to perhaps the division’s most accomplished featherweight. He is ranked No. 2 behind only Jon Jones in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
The 34-year-old Australian is a former professional rugby player who turned to mixed martial arts in large part to get in shape following his days on the pitch. Volkanovski has long maintained that he had little natural aptitude for mixed martial arts, but made his way through sheer determination and a relentless work ethic.
He is now known for his competence in just about every MMA discipline and endless cardio that he weaponizes in the cage. Volkanovski took control of the division with a memorable three-fight sweep of popular former champion Max Holloway. Two of his four title defenses have come against Holloway, including a dominant decision in their third matchup in July of last year.
Rodriguez (15-3-1) has long been hailed as a potential contender, but various injuries caused delays in his career trajectory and he fell out of public view on a couple of occasions. When healthy, the 30-year-old Mexican fighter has proven to be one of the game’s most lethal and dynamic strikers.
Rodriguez dispatched former title contender Brian Ortega in the first round of their July 2022 fight before stopping the overmatched Emmett in the second round of their interim title fight. Many MMA observers believe Rodriguez poses the most legitimate threat to dethroning Volkanovski at featherweight. You can see who Vithlani is backing at SportsLine.
UFC 290 predictions
We’ll share one of Vithlani’s UFC 290 picks here: He is siding with Robert Whittaker (-400) to get past Dricus Du Plessis (+300) in a battle of middleweight contenders.
Whittaker (24-6) is a former champion whose only two losses in the past eight years have come to current champion Israel Adesanya in title fights. The 32-year-old Australian has consistently dominated the rest of the division and can position himself for perhaps a third title shot with another victory.
Du Plessis (19-2) is an ultra-confident brawler who has predicted himself to become the middleweight champion since his UFC debut. The 29-year-old South African has won all five of his UFC appearances, four coming by stoppage.
“Whittaker has disposed of all other competitors aside from Adesanya, regularly beating top-five ranked fighters with his extremely well-rounded MMA game and high fight IQ. I expect more of the same Saturday,” Vithlani told SportsLine. You can see more UFC 290 picks at SportsLine.
How to make UFC 290 picks
Vithlani also has strong picks for Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez and other bouts on the UFC 290 card. He’s also backing a fighter who “can get it done with hard-nosed kickboxing or wrestling” to emerge with a dominant victory. Those picks are only available at SportsLine.
Who wins UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez, and how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on every fight at UFC 290, all from the MMA expert who profited more than $6,200 in 2022, and find out.
UFC 290 odds, fight card
See full UFC 290 picks, predictions, best bets here.
Alexander Volkanovski (-400) vs. Yair Rodriguez (+310)
Brandon Moreno (-190) vs. Alexandre Pantoja (+170)
Robert Whittaker (-400) vs. Dricus Du Plessis (+300)
Jalin Turner (-255) vs. Dan Hooker (+215)
Robbie Lawler (+220) vs. Niko Price (-260)
Jack Della Maddalena (-900) vs. Josiah Harrell (+600)
Yazmin Jauregui (-400) vs. Denise Gomes (+320)
Jimmy Crute (-120) Vs. Alonzo Menifield (+100)
Vitor Petrino (-280) vs. Marcin Prachnio (+235)
Cameron Saaiman (-500) vs. Terrence Mitchell (+370)
Shannon Ross (+125) vs. Jesus Santos Aguilar (-145)
Kamuela Kirk (+130) vs. Esteban Ribovics (-150)