This is a live blog covering the UFC 314 featherweight championship main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, taking place Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Volkanovski and Lopes are competing for the vacant featherweight title after former champion Ilia Topuria announced his move to the lightweight division.
In the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, Alexander Volkanovski is currently ranked No. 2, while Diego Lopes is close behind at No. 5 in the featherweight division. Volkanovski also holds the No. 13 spot in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound rankings.
Alexander Volkanovski aims to become a two-time champion after losing his belt to Ilia Topuria via knockout in February 2024. Despite the time off potentially being beneficial for the 36-year-old Hall of Famer, history is against him. No fighter has ever captured an undisputed UFC title after suffering two consecutive losses (Volkanovski`s previous loss was also a knockout against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev).
However, if anyone can make history, it`s Volkanovski. He has already established one of the most impressive reigns in featherweight history, defending his UFC title five times from 2020 to 2023. His record includes victories over legendary fighters like Max Holloway (three times), Yair Rodriguez, Brian Ortega, Chan Sung Jung, Jose Aldo, and Chad Mendes.
Diego Lopes` list of accomplishments is not as extensive, but the 30-year-old fighter has youth on his side and plenty of confidence. Since his debut as a short-notice replacement in a close fight against undefeated contender Movsar Evloev, Lopes has achieved five consecutive wins, becoming a popular contender for the title. He has the opportunity to solidify his star status with a strong performance against Volkanovski on Saturday.
Follow the UFC 314 live blog below for real-time updates on the Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes fight.
