Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodríguez title fight in the works for UFC 290

Alexander Volkanovski will defend the undisputed UFC featherweight title against interim champion Yair Rodríguez at UFC 290 on July 8, according to Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting. 

No contracts have been signed, but both fighters have verbally agreed to the fight. 

Volkanovski, who failed to become a double UFC champion, will look to rebound from his first UFC loss at the hands of lightweight title holder Islam Makhachev in February.

With a win at UFC 290, Volkanovski (25-2) would add to his featherweight resume that includes wins over Max Holloway, José Aldo, Brian Ortega, Chad Mendes and Chan Sung Jung, to name a select few.

Volkanovski, who averages the longest fight time (18 minutes), would also break a tie — with Holloway — for the second-most featherweight title fight defenses in UFC history, behind longtime great Aldo. 

Rodríguez, the interim featherweight champion, will attempt to unify the 145-pound title against the No. 1 pound-for-pound men’s UFC fighter. 

The Chihuahua, Mexico native submitted Josh Emmett at UFC 284 to claim UFC gold for the first time. He’s tied for the most post-fight bonuses (nine) in UFC featherweight history. 

Rodríguez (15-3, 1 NC) would become the third Mexican-born undisputed UFC title holder, joining Brandon Moreno and Alexa Grasso. 

The 145-pound title unification bout is expected to take place in Las Vegas during the UFC's 11th Annual International Fight Week.