According to insiders in the mixed martial arts community, it appears that Alexander Volkanovski, the current UFC featherweight champion, is set to defend his title during the International Fight Week. MMA Fighting that a matchup between Volkanovski and interim champ Yair Rodriguez has been penciled in for UFC 290, taking place on July 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Volkanovski enters the octagon in an unusual position, having suffered a recent loss after a narrow decision went in favor of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in February. The Australian fighter has a 100% win record in the UFC at the featherweight division and will be looking to defend his title for the fifth time. He will be hoping to emulate his performance from UFC 276 in July 2022, where he triumphed over Max Holloway for the third time, bringing International Fight Week to a fitting conclusion.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, boasts victories in three out of his last four fights, a run that includes two consecutive wins. His most recent success was a second-round submission over Josh Emmett at UFC 284, securing him the interim featherweight championship.

The upcoming clash promises to be an enthralling battle, as two of the best featherweights in the sport go head to head. July 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas could be a night that forever cements the legacy of one of these two warriors.