The vacant featherweight title will be on the line in the main event of UFC 314 this weekend, as Alexander Volkanovski takes on Diego Lopes in Miami.
Volkanovski is aiming to become a two-time champion, having not fought since he lost the belt last February, when he fell to a knockout defeat by Ilia Topuria. But with Topuria relinquishing the gold this February, as he prepares to move up to lightweight, a new champion is needed at 145lb. With that, former long-reigning king Volkanovski will face Lopes.
Lopes, 30, enters Miami on a five-fight win streak, and the key question is whether the Mexican’s brawling style can test Volkanovski’s chin, which some fans feel has weakened courtesy of KOs by Topuria and Makhachev.
Volkanovski is no doubt the tidier fighter, however, and that skillset saw the Australian, 36, record five successful title defences between 2020 and 2023. In fact, prior to a pair of lightweight losses to Makhachev, he was unbeaten for 10 years.
Also on Saturday, in the co-main event, brash Liverpudlian lightweight Paddy Pimblett takes on Michael Chandler, in “Paddy The Baddy”’s biggest test yet. Here’s all you need to know.
When is UFC 314?
UFC 314 will take place on Saturday 12 April at the Kaseya ...
