UFC 314 is the type of card we long for in 2025. It's always a party down in Miami, and the promotion's pay-per-view return to South Beach is no exception.
The main event is still a weird one to wrap the mind around. It's Conor McGregor's departure from the featherweight division in 2016 all over again. Now-former champion Ilia Topuria vacated his title in February to pursue lightweight glory, leaving his fellow former champion Alexander Volkanovski to enter the Jose Aldo role in an attempt at starting a second title reign. Time is a flat circle, folks.
Unlike Aldo, who had a rematch with another legendary former champion (Frankie Edgar) to start his second reign, Volkanovski has the rising superstar contender Diego Lopes in front of him. It's been a meteoric rise for Lopes, who's made the best of every opportunity thus far in his time with the UFC.
Similarly, England's Paddy Pimblett is tasked with perennial lightweight contender Michael Chandler in the co-main event. Both matchups are of the past vs. future variety. It's just a matter of whether or not the future is now.
Before the big closing bouts, the Bellator G.O.A.T. Patricio Pitbull makes his long-awaited UFC debut when he battles featherweight staple Yair Rodriguez. With so many variables in play right now at 145 pounds, a title shot could await the winner. That's without mentioning another surging contender, Jean Silva, who has been a must-see entertainer in the Octagon. On this occasion, he plans to make Bryce Mitchell his next victim. That's only scratching the surface of UFC 314. This card is one you can't miss.
It's good to officially be king, friends. Let's see if I can hold down the throne as we make some picks.
Betting odds courtesy of BetMGM.
