This is the UFC 314 live blog, dedicated to the featherweight championship main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes. The fight is set to take place on Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Volkanovski and Lopes are competing for the vacant title after Ilia Topuria, the current champion, announced his move to the lightweight division.
According to MMA Fighting`s Global Rankings, Volkanovski is currently ranked No. 2, while Lopes is close behind at No. 5. Volkanovski also holds the No. 13 spot on the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound list.
Volkanovski is aiming to become a two-time champion after losing his title to Topuria via knockout in February 2024. Despite the time off potentially benefiting the 36-year-old Hall of Famer, history is against him. No fighter in UFC history has ever won an undisputed title after suffering two consecutive losses. Volkanovski`s previous loss was also a knockout against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
If anyone can defy history, it`s Volkanovski. He has already established one of the most impressive reigns in featherweight history, defending his UFC title five times consecutively from 2020 to 2023. His accomplishments include three victories over the legendary Max Holloway, as well as wins against Yair Rodriguez, Brian Ortega, Chan Sung Jung, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes.
While Lopes may not have the same level of accolades, the 30-year-old possesses youth and confidence. Since his debut as a short-notice replacement resulting in a loss to Movsar Evloev, Lopes has secured five consecutive wins, establishing himself as a popular contender for the title. Saturday presents him with the opportunity to solidify his status with a remarkable performance against Volkanovski.
Follow the UFC 314 live blog for the Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes fight below for live updates.
