UFC 314 PREVIEW: Volkanovski looks to reclaim Featherweight crown

Alexander Volkanovski has the chance to become a two-time UFC Featherweight Champion when he faces Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 314, set for the Kaseya Centre in Miami on the morning of Sunday 13 April 2025.

Volkanovski (26-4) held the Featherweight title from December 2019 to February of 2024, making five successful defences of the belt until he was beaten via second-round knockout by Ilia Topuria at UFC 298. Topuria has since vacated the title, and is looking to move up to lightweight on a permanent basis.

Lopes (10-2) has earned this first title shot in his career on the back of a five-match winning streak, most recently defeating former title challenger Brian Ortega via unanimous decision at UFC 306 in September 2024.

Volkanovski, 36, has been labelled as ‘past his prime’ by many MMA media outlets, but his 30-year-old old Brazilian opponent disagrees: “I think it’s a wrong opinion by people. A lot of people are forgetting what Volkanovski has done in the division.

“We’re talking about him getting knocked out by Ilia, and that certainly is going to take away, but if we look at the fight outside of that, he was having the better moments with his distance, his jabs, and all that.

“He’s a guy that only has one loss in the division, and that was his last fight, which was a title fight. So throughout his entire career, and he’s got like 30 fights, he only has one loss at 145 pounds.

“I’m by no means looking at him past his prime because he has a ton of experience, has fought against the best in the world, and we all know what he’s capable of. I’m waiting for the best version of Volkanovski.”

Aside from the main event, the fight card also features a potential lightweight thriller between Michael Chandler (23-9) and Paddy Pimblett (22-3). The latter fighter, known as ‘The Baddy’, has put together an eight-match winning streak in his career, and claiming the scalp of a top-class veteran like Chandler would put him very much in the title picture.

“Every fight I get underestimated and overlooked, but I'm getting in there now with someone who's top 10, someone who's fought all the legends in the division. He's fought for the title. So, finally, I'm gonna get in there and when I win, people can't chat sh*t," said Pimblett.

"But they will. The goalposts always get moved when I win. People will start saying stuff. But I'm gonna be ranked No 7 once this fight's over, and I will be in title contention.”

The rest of the main card features featherweight fights pitting Bryce Mitchell against Jean Silva, and Yair Rodriguez against Patricio Pitbull, as well as Nikita Krylov v Dominick Reyes in the light heavyweight division.

UFC 314 – MAIN CARD

MAIN EVENT: Vacant Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski v Diego Lopes

LIGHTWEIGHT: Michael Chandler v Paddy Pimblett

FEATHERWEIGHT: Bryce Mitchell v Jean Silva

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: Nikita Krylov v Dominick Reyes

FEATHERWEIGHT: Yair Rodriguez v Patricio Pitbull