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: Alexander Volkanovski beats Diego Lopes for vacant 145lb belt
Here’s an in-depth look at how tonight’s main event unfolded:
Alexander Volkanovski survives knockdown to beat Diego Lopes and regain UFC crown
UFC 314 LIVE: Yair Rodriguez outpoints Patricio Pitbull in statement win
UFC 314 LIVE: Alexander Volkanovski beats Diego Lopes for vacant 145lb belt
UFC 314 LIVE: Paddy PImblett dominates and stops Michael Chandler
UFC 314 LIVE: Bryce Mitchell put unconscious by Jean Silva choke
UFC 314 LIVE: Alexander Volkanovski beats Diego Lopes for vacant 145lb belt
UFC 314 LIVE: Alexander Volkanovski beats Diego Lopes for vacant 145lb belt
UFC 314 LIVE: Alexander Volkanovski beats Diego Lopes for vacant 145lb belt
What a fight. If someone told you beforehand that Volk would get dropped, would you have backed him to recover and win? Almost certainly not.
He showed he still has physical resilience, while showing his skillset is still incredible.
UFC 314 LIVE: Alexander Volkanovski beats Diego Lopes for vacant 145lb belt
Lopes: “Listen, it was an honour to share the Octagon with a legend like Alexander Volkanovski, but I’ll be back.
“This is a man who’s so experienced in the UFC, what a career he’s had. Tonight, maybe I came up short, but I can see myself coming back.
“I’ll get better [...] I’m gonna become a champion.”
UFC 314 LIVE: Alexander Volkanovski beats Diego Lopes for vacant 145lb belt
Volk: “Oh, man, it’s good to be back. I’ve never felt the love so much.
“I was saying all week, I even said it to the camera before I walked out: I promised my girls I’ll bring the belt back to them, but then I thought... it doesn’t matter about bringing the belt back.
“A lot of people counted me out [...] To come back and beat a gun like Diego Lopes...
“It’s good to be back. To everyone watching, hey, adversity is a privilege, it truly is.
“This moment is incredible. I love you all, I really appreciate you.
“It’s an opportunity: you get adversity, if you build yourself back; it’s only gonna make you stronger, even if it doesn’t work out
“This is the s*** people are gonna write books about.”
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