Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski returns to the Octagon for the first time in 14 months opposite Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title at UFC 314 on Saturday night in Miami.
Ilia Topuria, who knocked out Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC 298, decided to vacate the featherweight title after reportedly revealing to UFC CEO Dana White he could no longer make the 145-pound weight limit and had “cemented his legacy” in the division. With Topuria moving up to lightweight, it opened the door for Volkanovski to fight in his 10th consecutive title bout dating to December 2019.
Meanwhile, Lopes (26-6, 5-1) has won five in a row after dropping his first UFC fight in an attempt to usher in a new era at featherweight. Lopes defeated former UFC title contender Brian Ortega last September to earn the title shot.
Speaking to the media Thursday, Volkanovski kept it simple regarding why he’ll get the job done.
“I believe I’m the best,” Volkanovski said.
Lopes respects Volkanovski but said a new era is on the verge of beginning, and he’ll be the man to kickstart it.
“It’s my time to take the belt,” Lopes said.
In the co-headliner, Michael Chandler makes his second appearance in five months against the undefeated (in the UFC) Paddy Pimblett in a five-round non-title fight.
Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) said he saw a recent tweet from Conor McGregor regarding his fight with Pimblett (22-3, 6-0), teasing a redo of their canceled UFC 303 fight from last June. While Chandler acknowledged McGregor’s interest in the fight, priority No. 1 remains to beat Pimblett to stay in the lightweight title mix.
“I’m coming to steal the show,” Chandler said. “This is the people’s main event, and I can’t wait to do it. I’m gonna find that chin (of Pimblett’s), and I’m gonna find that chin early.”
Pimblett said the opposite will happen come fight night.
“I’m not getting knocked out,” Pimblett said. “I’ve never been knocked out. Mike has, and I’ll do it again on Saturday.”
Below is the rest of the main card bout order as the pay-per-view begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Main card
–Vacant Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
–Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett (non-title, five rounds)
–Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva
–Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Freire
–Light heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes
–Field Level Media
