- Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will headline the UFC 314 card on April 12.
- Volkanovski and Lopes will battle for the vacant UFC featherweight title inside Kaseya Center in Miami.
- Volkanovski is the -170 betting favorite, while Lopes is the +115 betting underdog.
The vacant UFC featherweight title that was recently relinquished by Ilia Topuria will be up for grabs on April 12, as former titleholder and current No. 1 contender Alexander Volkanovski will battle the No. 3 contender Diego Lopes inside Kaseya Center in Miami.
Although he’s on a two-fight losing streak right now, Volkanovski’s championship experience and pedigree have made him the betting favorite to win this fight with -170 UFC odds. Meanwhile, despite his five-fight win streak, Lopes heads into the match as the +115 betting underdog at the BetMGM sportsbook.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes Odds
- Alexander Volkanovski: -170
- Diego Lopes: +115
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes: Prediction
Volkanovski’s championship experience and better striking skills are the main factors I predict would help him secure the unanimous decision victory against Lopes and regain his status as the undisputed king of the featherweight division.
Even though he suffered back-to-back knockout losses in his last two championship bouts, Volkanovski remains one of the best fighters in the UFC roster because of his well-rounded skills, that is highlighted by his elite striking skills.
“The Great” also has decent grappling skills that are good enough to stop takedowns and avoid submission threats, as he has displayed during his fights against Islam Makhachev (first fight) and Brian Ortega.
Another key for Volkanovski is his hunger to reclaim his throne. At 36, he may be past his prime, but there’s no denying that he still looked good during his past two fights until he was caught with a devastating knockout strike that put him to sleep.
On the other hand, Lopes’ path to victory is to start early and put pressure on Volkanovski to potentially land an atomic punch or engage in a grappling battle and look for submission techniques while they are not drenched in sweat yet. This way, Volkanovski will have a hard time escaping.
His only weakness is his stamina because he tends to gas out after only two rounds. Considering that this is a five-round fight, Lopes should go for a finish in the first three rounds, as Volkanovski can light him up in the championship rounds with his incredible cardio.
Alexander Volkanovski’s Recent Fight Results
Volkanovski was a former longtime UFC featherweight champion, who held the title for four years and defended it five times during his reign. Several notable victories were against Max Holloway (twice), Ortega, The Korean Zombie, and Yair Rodriguez.
The Australian MMA superstar is currently on a two-fight losing streak and has suffered three defeats out of his last four fights. He’s coming off back-to-back knockout losses to Makhachev in October 2023 and Topuria in February 2024.
Diego Lopes’ Recent Fight Results
Lopes first competed in Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2021, but was defeated by Joanderson Brito to crash out of the competition and failed to earn a roster spot in the UFC. But two years later, he redeemed himself and finally made his debut in the promotion.
The Brazilian fighter fought Movsar Evloev in May 2023 at UFC 288, but was unanimously defeated. Since then, Lopes bounced back and won his next fights by beating Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, Sodiq Yusuff, Dan Ige, and, most recently, Ortega, to become the No. 3-ranked divisional contender.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes: Tale of the Tape
| Alexander Volkanovski | Diego Lopes | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 36 | 30 |
| Height | 5’6” | 5’11” |
| Reach | 71.5 inches | 72.5 inches |
| Leg Reach | 36 inches | 41 inches |
| Record | 26-4 | 26-6 |
| Fighting Style | Striker | Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| Finishing Rate | 62% | 85% |
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes Fight Card
- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes, UFC featherweight title fight
- Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett, lightweight fight
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva, featherweight fight
- Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull, featherweight fight
- Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes, light heavyweight fight
- Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson, featherweight fight
- Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba, women’s strawweight fight
- Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper, lightweight fight
- Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa, featherweight fight
- Sedriques Dumas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk, middleweight fight
- Sumadaerji vs. Mitch Raposo, flyweight fight
- Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio, middleweight fight
- Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan, women’s bantamweight fight
