UFC 314 in Miami will feature Alexander Volkanovski facing Diego Lopes for the featherweight title after Ilia Topuria vacated it, with Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett as the co-main event, and Patricio Pitbull debuting against Yair Rodriguez.
Guess what? A new featherweight champ will be crowned when the UFC hits Miami!
Dana White, the UFC CEO, dropped a bombshell Wednesday night. Ilia Topuria’s vacated his title. So now, former champ Alexander Volkanovski is set to clash with Diego Lopes for the belt at UFC 314. Mark your calendar for April 12 at the Kaseya Center.
But wait, there’s more! Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett is the five-round co-main event. Oh, and longtime Bellator king Patricio Pitbull? He’s signed up too, facing off against Yair Rodriguez.
Topuria? Well, he’s moving on up to lightweight. White says his next fight announcement is coming soon.
Volkanovski’s making a comeback! It’s been 14 months since he lost his belt to Topuria at UFC 298 in February 2024. “The Great” had five successful defenses, including two against Max Holloway.
As for Lopes, he’s riding high with five straight wins. His latest? A dominant victory over Brian Ortega at UFC 306 last September.
Chandler’s in a bit of a slump, losing four of his last five. He’s looking to bounce back. Meanwhile, Pimblett’s on fire—6-0 in the UFC! Remember his quick submission win over King Green at UFC 304?
And if that’s not enough action for you, they’ve announced more fights! Geoff Neal faces Carlos Prates in a welterweight bout. Plus, Dan Ige takes on Sean Woodson in a featherweight showdown.