In a spectacular main event at UFC 314, Alexander Volkanovski etched his name further into the history books by overcoming Diego Lopes in a hard-fought, back-and-forth contest. This victory allowed Volkanovski to once again seize the featherweight championship.
This win marks Volkanovski`s return to the champion`s circle and establishes him as the first fighter over the age of 35 to reign as UFC champion at or below the 155-pound weight class. Despite facing moments of challenge, Volkanovski delivered a classic performance, effectively outmaneuvering and outstriking Lopes throughout all five rounds.
The judges` scorecards reflected Volkanovski`s dominance with unanimous scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47, crowning him a two-time featherweight titleholder.
“It’s great to be back,” Volkanovski expressed, as the championship belt was once again fastened around his waist. “I have truly felt an outpouring of support. All week, I said I promised my daughters I would bring this belt home to them. Many had doubts after my two knockout losses, but I came back to defeat a formidable opponent like Diego Lopes. It feels incredible to be back. Adversity is a privilege, and this moment is truly special.”
“This is the kind of stuff that inspires books and movies. This is what it`s all about.”
Although the outcome wasn`t in Lopes` favor, he demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience in his first shot at a UFC title. Accepting the defeat with grace, Lopes vowed to learn from the experience and continue his pursuit of championship gold.
“It was an honor to share the octagon with a fighter of Alexander Volkanovski`s caliber,” Lopes acknowledged. “But I will return. He is a highly experienced UFC veteran, and I see my own potential. I will improve, come back stronger, and become a champion.”
Volkanovski initiated the fight with aggressive momentum, landing a powerful left hook early in the first round that visibly stunned Lopes. Capitalizing on this, Volkanovski secured a takedown and unleashed a series of strikes, overwhelming the challenger who seemed to struggle for answers against the former champion’s onslaught.
Volkanovski effectively established his rhythm, picking his shots from a distance, while Lopes struggled to generate significant offense. Another powerful strike from Volkanovski staggered Lopes, sending him reeling towards the cage, though Lopes managed to defend against a subsequent takedown attempt.
Just as Volkanovski appeared to be in complete control, Lopes landed a counter shot that briefly dropped the Australian. As the round concluded, Volkanovski`s visible frustration at being caught by the punch was evident.
Despite a slightly shaky end to the second round, Volkanovski regrouped effectively and implemented a refined strategy in the third. He landed sharp combinations, including a solid left hook that connected cleanly with Lopes` jaw.
Lopes found it challenging to draw Volkanovski into a chaotic brawl, which was his preferred fight style. It was only when he initiated an exchange that he landed a straight left followed by a right uppercut, momentarily unsettling Volkanovski.
Volkanovski was seen wiping his eye, indicating damage taken, and Lopes pressed forward, seeking a potential finish. However, Volkanovski maintained composure, preventing Lopes from capitalizing on the moment before returning to his corner.
In his corner, Volkanovski informed his coaches about impaired vision during the round, which fortunately recovered. This improvement was evident in the final round as Volkanovski persistently utilized his jab and maintained distance from Lopes` power shots.
Volkanovski’s superior volume and precision proved decisive. While Lopes continued to press forward, he couldn`t inflict significant damage. Over the five rounds, Volkanovski consistently landed more strikes, and despite Lopes’ demonstrated toughness, he couldn`t generate enough offense to secure the win.
This was a highly impressive victory for Volkanovski, who faced pre-fight doubts for the first time in his UFC career following consecutive knockout losses. He now stands once again as the undisputed champion, with a growing list of eager featherweight contenders lining up to challenge him.
