UFC 314 LIVE results: Volkanovski wins epic Lopes clash after Pimblett dominates Chandler
Alexander Volkanovski became a two-time champion by beating Diego Lopes for the vacant 145lb belt, after Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett stopped Michael Chandler
Alexander Volkanovski reclaimed his featherweight throne on Saturday, outpointing Diego Lopes in a thrilling main event at UFC 314.
After Ilia Topuria relinquished the belt in February, a year after dethroning Volkanovski, a new champion was needed – and so a title fight was booked between “Alexander The Great” and Lopes.
With Volkanovski having suffered knockout losses in his last two outings, against Topuria and in a lightweight-title clash with Islam Makhachev, some fans feared for the 36-year-old here. Especially as in the opposite corner was a younger, hungry contender in Lopes, who was challenging for UFC gold for the first time.
And the Mexican-Brazilian, 30, showed his danger in round two with a late knockdown of Volkanovski, courtesy of a clean one-two. It was a tense moment that threatened to derail Volkanovski’s masterful first-round work – and even his own success in round two, given he sent Lopes staggering badly against the fence. But the former champion recovered well, not only surviving the knockdown in the immediate moment but winning the third round with smart range management, tidy boxing, and investment in leg kicks.
To Lopes’s credit, he forged some momentum in round four, hurting the already cut Volkanovski with an uppercut and stalking the increasingly sloppy Australian around the cage. Yet Volkanovski finished strong and refused to get suckered into a brawl in the closing minutes, ultimately securing scorecards of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46. Re-live the UFC 314 main card and prelims.
UFC 314 LIVE: Bryce Mitchell and Jean Silva meet in grudge match
Round one
Mitchell presses forward in a southpaw stance and flicks out a few different kicks. He’s a grappling specialist, while Silva should feel more comfortable in the striking exchanges.
Silva just misses with a wheel kick. Hard low kick by Mitchell, now a side kick to the body – not for the first time tonight. Silva misses with a jumping front kick.
A right hook is just out of range for the Brazilian. He catches a kick, though, and tags Mitchell with a couple of punches. Mitchell shoots for a single-leg now, but he’s denied.
Both men stand. Silva is starting to find his accuracy. A spinning back kick lands! Mitchell shoots for a takedown, and Silva counters with a guillotine, but Mitchell escapes eventually!
The 145lbers end the round on their feet.
UFC 314 LIVE: Krylov vs Reyes opens main card
Round one
Reyes stands southpaw, while Krylov is orthodox. The Russian backs up the American early, kicking high. Decent counter straight from Reyes, then a power jab.
The fans in Miami chant for Reyes, who kicks low. Grazing high kick now. Some scrappy entries from Kyrlov, who hasn’t fought in two years.
OH!!! REYES MELTS KRYLOV! It’s a step-back, short left hand that does it!
A jubilant Reyes goes over to acknowledge Trump at ringside.
Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov via first-round KO (punch, 2:24)
UFC 314 LIVE: Donald Trump arrives before Krylov vs Reyes opens main card
The main card begins in a few minutes, as Nikita Krylov and ex-title challenger Dominick Reyes look to climb the light-heavyweight rankings – at each other’s expense.
First, though, US President Donald Trump arrives to cheers in Miami, walked in by UFC boss Dana White. “U-S-A” is the chant in the Kaseya Center.
Reyes seeks a third straight knockout win here, while Krylov is on a three-fight win streak – including a decision, submission and KO.
It has been over five years since Reyes was robbed of a rightful title win against Jon Jones – and the statistic of being the first man to truly beat the 205lb GOAT.
UFC 314 LIVE: Dan Ige and Sean Woodson finish off prelims
Round three
Good counter punches by Woodson as Ige looks to get on the front foot.
OH! Ige wobbles Woodson with an overhand left and pours on punches, adding clever body work as Woodson retreats to the fence!
Now Ige goes to the head, and Woodson looks to circle away but resorts to dropping and trying a single-leg...
It’s a bad visual as Ige adds more shots, and the referee steps in! An early stoppage... but Ige won’t mind at all!
Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson via third-round TKO (punches, 1:12)
UFC 314 LIVE: Dan Ige and Sean Woodson finish off prelims
Round two
Ige with a couple of strong right crosses. One issue, though, courtesy of Woodson’s height, is that some of Ige’s punches are hitting the chest.
Decent short right hand by Woodson as Ige enters. Ige grabs hold of Woodson and grapples him against the fence, but Woodson soon escapes.
A slower spell now. Ige tries to up the pace but is struggling to close the range and land clean; a lot of his entries end with him tagging the chest or arm of Woodson.
Drive takedown attempt by Ige, but Woodson sprawls well and stands. He’s held against the fence, but not for long.
UFC 314 LIVE: Dan Ige and Sean Woodson finish off prelims
Round one
Woodson is the much-taller fighter. Both men, standing orthodox, have knockout power.
Hard low kick by Woodson. Nice long cross to the body by Ige. Now a decent overhand upstairs! Ige with his own low kicks, too.
Woodson switches stances back and forth. More leg kicks by Ige, hammering them in. Woodson just about puts a couple of combinations together.
Lots of weird feints from Woodson. Ige is looking for big single shots.
Woodson doing the better work as the round progresses.
UFC 314 LIVE: Yan Xiaonan and Virna Jandiroba square off at strawweight
Round three
Jandiroba has some swelling around her left eye. Yan is advised by her team to aim for the body in the striking exchanges and work her way up to the head.
Jandiroba lands a left hook in a scrappy trade. Yan denies the Brazilian a couple of takedowns. The third one is successful, though!
Jandiroba has the back and wants a rear naked choke. She settles for a slew of elbows, and as the buzzer sounds, she should get the decision!
And she does: Virna Jandiroba def. Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
UFC 314 LIVE: Yan Xiaonan and Virna Jandiroba square off at strawweight
Round two
Jandiroba gets a takedown early and swiftly takes the back.
She thinks about a version of a Kimura, before targeting a rear naked choke.
Good defence by Yan, but she’s running out of time to make a positive impression in this round.
EVENTUALLY Yan escapes and stands, before looking to make up for lost time, raining down strikes! She enters Jandiroba’s guard, though, and now she’s defending an armbar!
Again Yan makes it to the buzzer...
UFC 314 LIVE: Yan Xiaonan and Virna Jandiroba square off at strawweight
Round one
Both women stand orthodox. Jandiroba shoots for a takedown, but Yan denies her and fires off left hands to the head at the same time.
Grazing head kick lands for Jandiroba. Beautiful side kick to the face by Yan, wow. Now a hard cross to the body.
Jandiroba goes southpaw then back. Both women appear to land left hooks simultaneously. Jandiroba clinches Yan against the fence and, after some trouble, gets a takedown.
Yan eyes a triangle choke but settles for keeping her leg across the back of Jandiroba’s head to keep the Brazilian in place, where she’s a victim to hammer fists.
Jandiroba with hammer fists of her own in the ensuing scramble, which ends with Jandiroba entering Yan’s guard. Jandiroba stands, and her Chinese opponent lands a couple of up-kicks.
Now Yan stands. Jandiroba tries a creative Kimura attempt and takes down Yan, then switches to an armbar! Yan survives to the buzzer!
UFC 314 LIVE: Yan Xiaonan and Virna Jandiroba square off at strawweight
Next up, former title challenger Yan Xiaonan takes on Virna Jandiroba at strawweight.
Xiaonan likely has more work to do to get back to a title shot, while Jandiroba is in fine form and could set up a championship opportunity with victory here.
Champion Zhang Weili last fought in February, outpointing Tatiana Suarez with an absolute clinic.
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