Alexander Volkanovski has regained his UFC Featherweight Championship after defeating Diego Lopes by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 314.
This win comes after a tough stretch for Volkanovski, including back-to-back knockouts by Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. Despite concerns about his performance after those losses, Volkanovski quickly silenced critics with a dominant display.
Volkanovski’s Strong Start and Control Throughout the Fight
Volkanovski wasted no time asserting his dominance over Lopes. From the opening round, Volkanovski connected with powerful right and left hands, mixed in leg kicks, and even secured a takedown.
Lopes struggled to cope with the pressure, but he did manage to land a significant punch in the second round that knocked Volkanovski to the canvas.
Though it was a brief setback, Volkanovski quickly regained control, landing effective counters and continuing to land heavy strikes as the fight progressed.
Lopes Shows Heart, But Volkanovski Maintains Dominance
In round four, Lopes capitalized on a moment when he landed an uppercut that seemed to affect Volkanovski’s right eye.
Lopes pressed forward with a flurry of punches, but Volkanovski’s experience and composure helped him recover.
After the round, Volkanovski told his corner, “I’m starting to get my eyesight back now,” highlighting his resilience.
Lopes tried to mount an attack in the final minute of the fight, but Volkanovski’s clean punches and solid defense sealed the victory.
After five rounds, the judges scored the fight 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46, all in favor of Volkanovski, securing his second reign as Featherweight Champion.
A Historic Achievement for Volkanovski
With this victory, Volkanovski becomes the first male fighter in UFC history to win a championship fight after the age of 35.
His first title win came in December 2019 when he defeated Max Holloway, and since then, he successfully defended it five times before losing to Ilia Topuria in February 2024. This victory is a remarkable comeback after a challenging period.
Diego Lopes’ Impressive Performance
Although Lopes came up short, the 30-year-old showed he belongs among the elite fighters in the division. After a tough debut loss in March 2023, Lopes bounced back with five straight wins, including a victory over Brian Ortega, to earn his shot at the title.
Lopes vowed to continue his career and is optimistic about his future in the UFC, as he is still in his prime.
Other Highlights from UFC 314
Paddy Pimblett stole the spotlight in the co-main event by securing a third-round TKO win over Michael Chandler.
Pimblett dominated the fight with his grappling and ground strikes, and after the victory, he boldly called out former title challengers like Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Charles Oliveira.
Yair Rodriguez delivered a dominant performance over Patricio Pitbull, winning 30-27 on all three judges’ scorecards in Pitbull’s UFC debut. Rodriguez’s striking and relentless pressure kept Pitbull at bay, and he even dropped the former Bellator champion in the third round.
In another exciting fight, Jean Silva submitted Bryce Mitchell in the second round, continuing his impressive five-fight win streak.
Silva overcame Mitchell’s ground game by locking in a north-south choke, forcing Mitchell to tap out.
UFC 314 Fight Results:
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Alexander Volkanovski (c) def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
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Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler via third-round TKO (punches)
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Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell via second-round submission (north-south choke)
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Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov via first-round knockout (punch)
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Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson via third-round TKO (punches)
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Virna Jandiroba def. Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
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Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins via first-round TKO (punches)
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Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas via first-round TKO (punches)
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Sumudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
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Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore via second-round TKO (punches)
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Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
