UFC 290 live results and analysis: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez

LAS VEGAS -- It has been a tremendous 2023 already for UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski -- despite the fact he is officially 0-1 this year.

Volkanovski (25-2) looks to defend his 145-pound championship tonight against interim title holder Yair Rodriguez (15-3) in the main event of the UFC's illustrious UFC 290 International Fight Week event inside T-Mobile Arena. Volkanovski goes into the contest in a tie with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev as ESPN's No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

The Aussie champion came up short in a bid to dethrone Makhachev at UFC 284 earlier this year in Australia. Although Volkanovski lost to Makhachev via decision, the bout was…