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 Center in Miami. The early prelims will start at 11pm BST (3pm PT / 5pm CT / 6pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday (5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then set for 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT / 9pm CT / 10pm ET on Saturday).
How can I watch it?
The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
Odds
Volkanovski – 4/6; Lopes – 6/5
Chandler – 11/8; Pimblett – 4/7
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Fight card (subject to changes)
Main card
Alex Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes (vacant featherweight title)
Michael Chandler vs Paddy Pimblett (lightweight, five rounds)
Bryce Mitchell vs Jean Silva (featherweight)
Yair Rodriguez vs Patricio Pitbull (featherweight)
Nikita Krylov vs Dominick Reyes (light-heavyweight)
Prelims
Dan Ige vs Sean Woodson (featherweight)
Yan Xiaonan vs Virna Jandiroba (women’s strawweight)
Jim Miller vs Chase Hooper (lightweight)
Darren Elkins vs Julian Erosa (featherweight)
Early prelims
Sedriques Dumas vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (middleweight)
Sumudaerji vs Mitch Raposo (flyweight)
Tresean Gore vs Marco Tulio (middleweight)
Nora Cornolle vs Hailey Cowan (women’s bantamweight)
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