“I’ll be back. I’ll flip the switch,” is what Alexander Volkanovski said to ESPN for an interview. The vacant UFC featherweight title is on the line for UFC 314 as former featherweight champ Volkanovski and newcomer powerhouse Diego Lopes are set to clash in a mega fight. Volk has been on top of the featherweight division being a champ and also winning 12 fights back to back before losing to Islam Makhachev in 2023. On the other hand, Diego Lopes has won 6 back to back fights in UFC, and this will be his first title fight in the promotion.
What happens when a world-class striker meets a submission expert? Well, we will see that on Saturday at Kaseya Center. While the anticipation for Volkanovski vs Lopes is pretty high, the MMA fans have been racking their brains on who might be the winner. So we decided to ask AI to predict the main event and tell us the probable winner for this mega fight.
How will Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes go down?
The AI naturally highlighted how Volk has a long reign in the featherweight category, but is currently going through a slump. ‘The Great’ has a 1-3 in his last four fights and is coming off back-to-back KO defeats at the hands of Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev. As for Diego Lopes, he has had a good start in UFC with multiple stoppages and 6 back-to-back wins. Now, what does AI think about their fighting arsenal?
Well, it addressed Volk’s powerful striking, which is what we have seen inside the Octagon so many times. The Aussie is one of the most efficient strikers and mixes leg kicks with feints, along with perfect distance control. Lopes, on the other hand, throws a methodical approach out the window and is pure chaos inside the Octagon. With a sharp Muay Thai background, he uses looping punches with an unorthodox approach and combines aggression inside the cage.
April 7, 2022, Jacksonville, Florida, JACKSONVILLE, FL, United States: JACKSONVILLE, FL – April 7: Alexander Volkanovski meets with the press and the fans for the press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz at Times Union Center for UFC 273 – Volkanovski vs The Korean – Presser on April 7, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Jacksonville, Florida United States – ZUMAp175 20220407_zsa_p175_040 Copyright: xLouisxGrassexz
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When it comes to grappling and jiu-jitsu, Diego Lopes takes the prize since his submission game is top-notch. He attacks the neck from every angle and smoothly transitions from one move to the other in a scramble. However, Volkanovski can tackle this because he has survived Brian Ortega’s dangerous guillotine and triangle choke. The main question is: will Lopes be able to bring Alexander Volkanovski to the mat?
Apart from their fight with Arsenal, when it comes to experience and fight IQ, the Aussie is one of the savviest fighters in the UFC. He also has more experience than his opponent, and his resume not only includes a championship belt, but also fights against elite like Max Holloway (who defeated him 3 times), Islam Makhachev, and Jose Aldo. On the other hand, Lopes is relatively new inside the octagon but has the advantage of age and aggression on his side. Lopes is swift and dangerous in the early rounds, and with him, a first-round submission or KO is pretty much possible. However, the 36-year-old Aussie is a master of standing his ground and surviving pressure while drowning his opponents. Can Lopes control the pace against a calculated fighter like Volkanovski?
UFC 314: Volkanovski vs Lopes AI prediction
According to AI, the battle between the featherweight stars will be a fight of chaos and method. Lopes will come in guns blazing and might win round one with prominent junctures. Lopes does have the ammo to end the fight early, but the Australians’ chances increase the longer the fight goes. If the five-round slugfest reaches the middle rounds, then Volk has an upper hand. Volkanovski’s greater cardio, technique, and fight IQ could help him wear the Brazilian down.
By the time the fight reaches around four, the Brazilian will start getting exhausted, and his gas tank might be dwindling. Volk will grab the chance and start pouring it down with ground and pound or standing volume, whatever the fight needs. As per AI, the referee will step in after a knockdown.
While Lopes has the ammo, Volk has ammo and experience against elite fighters, so this could end in his victory. This could also be a Fight of the Year contender as per AI — technical brilliance vs highlight-reel chaos. But the veteran gets it done in the end with a KO. Thus, the winner is?: Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via TKO (Round 4). But we will finally know the outcome on April 12 at UFC 314, so are you ready for the showdown? Share your predictions below.
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