Three keys to victory for Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 290 for title showdown against Yair Rodríguez

Australian superstar Alexander Volkanovski headlines UFC 290 this weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against dangerous Mexican opponent Yair Rodriguez.

Volkanovski, 34, will be defending his 145lbs title for the fifth time, after suffering a close defeat to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in February.

As for Rodriguez, the interim featherweight champion comes into the main event off a second-round submission win against Josh Emmett back in February.

Volkanovski is widely considered to be one of the best fighters in the sport and is ranked at No. 2 in the UFC pound-for-pound ratings.

A victory over Rodriguez will further cement Volkanovski as one of the greatest of all-time, while a loss will herald the arrival of a new featherweight king.

Alexander Volkanovski headlines UFC 290 this weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against dangerous Mexican opponent Yair Rodriguez

Volkanovski, 34, will be defending his 145lbs title for the fifth time, this weekend

The pound-for-pound superstar has all the ingredients to beat Rodriguez, so let’s look at three key areas Volkanovski will need to dominate.

Controlling distance 

Volkanovski is typically shorter than his opponents and is used to navigating a range discrepancy against taller and longer fighters – and this will be crucial against Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is an exceedingly dangerous striker and his unorthodox attacks could be a problem for Volkanovski in the early rounds.

However, time and again the Aussie has excelled at beating opponents at their own game and has seemingly prepared well for this bout by training with multi-time Taekwondo world champion Carl Van Roon and Mike ‘Blood Diamond’ Mathetha who have been mimicking ‘El Pantera’s’ style.

If Volkanovski can neutralise the dynamic kicking game of Rodriguez, he should dominate exchanges in the pocket where he has the superior boxing.

Executing takedowns

The Aussie is the more well-rounded fighter in this match-up, and if he decides to  put his opponent on his back – especially in the early rounds – he could neutralise the danger.

Volkanovski will need to control the range against Rodriguez like he’s done in previous fights against longer opponents

Volkanovski is the more well-rounded fighter, and putting Rodriguez on his back early on could pay off later in the bout

Rodriguez’s offence from his back shouldn’t worry the champ too much, and the more time he can spend in top position grinding of the Mexican, the less explosive he will be later in the fight.

Nobody is better than Volkanovski at minimizing their opponent’s strengths, and putting Rodriguez on his back early could pay dividends in the later rounds.

Concentration and adapting on the fly

Rodriguez has proved he can finish fights violently from unorthodox positions, and the champ will need to be on his game to avoid and control this flashy offence.

Volkanovski has made a career out of solving problems, but can’t afford a single lapse in concentration against somebody as dangerous as Rodriguez.

He needs to avoid the big artillery in the early rounds and use his vast array of skills to impose his will, pressure and elite cardio.

Volkanovski cannot afford a lapse in concentration against the dangerous Mexican

The Aussie sees himself getting an early finish against Rodriguez

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, Volkanovski revealed he sees holes in Rodriguez’s game heading into the main event.

‘There’s definitely things I can see that I will take advantage of,’ said Volkanovski.

‘He’s so dangerous because of how unpredictable he is – it’s not careless – but that unpredictable and crazy style makes him dangerous, but it’s also why there’s things that I can capitalize on.’

Volkanovski, who is on a 10-fight UFC winning streak at featherweight, is also predicting it will be an early night.

‘I think I can finish this one early, I really do.

‘I feel I’m too powerful and too strong – and I can see myself finishing him anywhere. Grappling, wrestling, ground and pound, striking. Anywhere.’