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: Miller and Hooper clash in meeting of generations
Round three
Miller tries to get the crowd fired up, but Hooper starts the final round well with a spinning back fist!
Nice feinting from Hooper to set up a successful double-leg, and he’s got half-guard against the fence.
Now he takes the back, and although Miller stands, he’s soon tripped. Hooper is holding Miller from behind still, but he’s struggling to wrap up the veteran’s legs.
Some boos from the crowd, but Hooper is working. He’s now attacking a heel hook, and Miller is really trapped, but the finish is proving elusive for Hooper...
A scramble leads to half-guard, as Hooper seeks an arm-triangle now. He releases the grip to slash down an elbow, Buzzer sounds, and the scorecards will ensue.
Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
The right result, and the biggest win of Hooper’s career!
UFC 314 LIVE: Miller and Hooper clash in meeting of generations
Round two
After some teasing striking exchanges, Hooper grabs hold of Miller and is quick to take the back. Again, Miller is standing as Hooper tries a rear naked choke...
Hooper is off the ground as he seeks the submission, but now he drops his feet to the canvas and abandons the choke.
He takes down Miller and lands in side control. A decent elbow to the face, and Miller is somewhat bloody. Yet the veteran does well to stand and attack a guillotine – again! – against the fence...
Once more it fails, as Hooper pops his head out and gets on top. In the ensuing scramble, Hooper attacks a combination of a kneebar and foot lock, but the buzzer sounds.
UFC 314 LIVE: Miller and Hooper clash in meeting of generations
Round one
Miller stands southpaw, as does Hooper, who eats a decent cross before shooting for a takedown.
Miller defends it well and looks to counter with a guillotine... but grappling expert Hooper rolls out well!
He ends up with Miller in his guard, and there he is tagged HARD with some hammer fists! It doesn’t stop him trying an armbar, but to no avail. What a fast start to this one...
Hooper is able to stand, driving for a double-leg, and Miller again tries a guillotine. He can’t finish it, and Hooper scrambles well to take the back of a now-standing Miller.
Eventually Miller is able to shake off Hooper, who attacks an armbar on the mat... No joy.
UFC 314 LIVE: Miller and Hooper clash in meeting of generations
Next up, Jim Miller faces Chase Hooper at lightweight, and this fight has to have one of the biggest-ever age discrepancies in a UFC fight!
Miller is 41; Hooper is 25. Sixteen years between the opponents!
Why Volkanovski can write an unlikely redemption story tonight
Here’s our own Will Castle on tonight’s main event:
“Volkanovski has the chance to write his redemption story when many assumed his career had passed a point of no return.
“This could well be his last shot at the gold. Volkanovski is already a bona fide icon of the sport, widely hailed for his legacy-defining four-year-plus run as champion. But with three losses in his last four, it feels time is running out for the former rugby prop.
“It’s a reality of sport that athletes enjoy a prime and Volkanovski, now 36, is surely past that. The sharp-witted Aussie has even leant into this himself, adopting an ‘Old Man Volk’ character in online skits, a move that cemented his prowess as an entertainer as well as a fighter.
“And while his acting prospects may be on the rise, things inside the cage have looked increasingly dire for Volkanovski loyalists over the past couple of years...”
Full preview:
Why Alexander Volkanovski can write an unlikely redemption story at UFC 314
Michael Chandler explains why he took Paddy Pimblett fight at UFC 314
While Volkanovski vs Lopes came as a slight surprise, so did Chandler vs Pimblett – tonight’s co-main event.
“In this sport, things move fast,” Chandler said in February. “There’s a lot of stuff going on in the division, it’s a big summer for the lightweight division.
“And after the last fight – one of the most disappointing losses of my career – I wanted to get right back on the horse, get back in the Octagon.
“So, here we go. I like the match-up – love the match-up actually. I respect Paddy, I think he’s a skilled fighter, I think he’s still got a bright future, but I think he’s gonna run into a buzzsaw called Michael Chandler on 12 April.
“As always, I will be the most entertaining guy that steps inside the Octagon that night. I will have everybody on their feet, I will have everybody on the edge of their seat, and – in typical Chandler fashion – we’re going out there with one goal in mind: that’s to separate our opponent from consciousness.”
Full story:
Michael Chandler explains why he took Paddy Pimblett fight and how it came together
Topuria considered other fighters’ ‘dreams’ when vacating belt before UFC 314
Explaining his decision to vacate at featherweight, Topuria told Men’s Health Spain recently: “I know I’m not going to cut weight right now, and I don’t want to hold up an entire division.
“There are guys who are preparing every day, who are fighting – just like me – for their dreams. And keeping the title would be very selfish of me.
“Besides, I’m the world champion whether I vacate the title or not; I don’t need a belt to feel worthy.”
More here, plus Topuria revealing his new fighting nickname:
Ilia Topuria considered other fighters’ ‘dreams’ when vacating UFC title
How Volkanovski reacted to Lopes fight and Topuria giving up belt
So, how did we get here, with Volkanovski vs Lopes set to crown a new featherweight champion?
It started with Topuria vacating the belt in February, as he eyes a move up to lightweight – and a shot at the gold in that division.
“We originally thought it was gonna be Ilia or Lopes,” Volk said. “I was just preparing for Ilia, because we did the face-off [in the cage, after Topuria beat Max Holloway in October].
“Then I was getting told, ‘We’re not exactly sure,’ so that’s when we were like, ‘Alright, something may be changing.’ But I’ve been preparing for April, Miami, for a while now. I’ve had a pretty long camp already.
“Lopes, obviously a dangerous dude,” Volkanovski said. “A bit of a different match-up to Ilia [...] I’m feeling great, and I’m only gonna get better from here, so that’s a scary thing – especially for Lopes.
“I think Lopes is in for a very, very hard fight. He’s a gamer, he’s a great dude, I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”
More from Volk here:
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