With Ilia Topuria’s featherweight title vacated, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will face off in a high-stakes fight at UFC 314 to claim the throne. While ‘The Great’ seeks to recover his reign, Lopes views this as an opportunity to take control. At the recent UFC 314 press conference, the intensity between the two was evident, but some analysts believe Volkanovski is entering a dangerous fight. With back-to-back losses, including a knockout loss to Topuria, the former champion is under intense pressure to prove that he still belongs at the top. However, a former UFC fighter, Kenny Florian, believes otherwise.
The UFC veteran recently weighed in on the bout on the Anik and Florian podcast, calling it an extremely hard fight to handicap, owing to Volkanovski’s current form. “What Volkanovski is going to show up?” Florian questioned the former champion, citing his recent knockout defeats and if he will take a cautious, strategic approach or engage in an aggressive stand-up battle. He recognized Volkanovski’s ground game as a big asset but expressed concern about Lopes’ relentless hitting, saying, “He’s going to go out there and try to find Volkanovski’s chin early and often until that final bell.”
Diego Lopes, on a five-fight winning streak, has been nothing short of dominant, defeating three of his last five opponents. While the Australian’s aggressive mindset makes him one of the division’s most dangerous rising contenders, many believe his confidence might be a major issue for him. ‘KenFlo’ emphasized that the first ten minutes will be key for the former champion, as the 30-year-old is expected to come out strong. He feels that if Volkanovski survives the initial storm, he may take control of the fight. However, if he starts a firefight too soon, it could be disastrous. “If he tries to knock Lopes out and really counter him, that could be extremely dangerous,” Florian said.
— Anik & Florian Podcast (@AnikFlorianPod) March 10, 2025
Despite the concerns, Alexander Volkanovski is still one of the most experienced and battle-tested fighters in the UFC. His ability to escape dangerous positions against elite grapplers has been proven time and again, but Lopes presents a new type of challenge. With youth, momentum, and strength on his side, Lopes is keen to make his mark by getting atop the featherweight throne. But while we believe that we will be witnessing a fight between the best, former kingpin of the division, Ilia Topuria believes otherwise.
Ilia Topuria mocks Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes ahead of UFC 314
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has thrown shade at the upcoming Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes fight, calling it quite unimportant to the division’s true hierarchy. As Volkanovski and Lopes prepare to compete for the vacant featherweight throne that was once his, ‘El Matador’ remains unimpressed by the fight. But why? Well, that’s because, having defeated Volkanovski and successfully defended his belt against Max Holloway, the Spanish-Georgian sees himself as the division’s true king, regardless of the official title picture.
In a video posted by Spanish media MARCA, Ilia Topuria mocked Volkanovski and Lopes as his “children,” meaning that neither fighter is genuinely on his level. “I don’t know how to predict the future,” he admitted, adding, “The future of our children is complicated. I wish them both luck, but we know who is in charge of that division.” Topuria’s dismissive tone implies that he sees the fight as little more than a sideshow, adding, “I have simply left them so they can have fun because it’s important for them.” But who can argue with his opinion?
After all, this level of confidence, bordering on arrogance, has been a defining characteristic of Topuria and has helped him cement himself as one of the UFC’s biggest stars. While Volkanovski and Lopes compete for the title, Topuria left behind, the Spanish-Georgian sensation is aiming for a major lightweight title bout against Islam Makhachev. If he wins a second UFC championship, similarities to Conor McGregor will only become stronger. Meanwhile, UFC 314 remains an action-packed event, with matchups such as Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett, Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull, and Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva completing a stacked card. So, what do you think? Who will win the fight? Let us know in the comments.
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