Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski of Australia returns to the octagon at UFC 314 this weekend following a year out after losing his featherweight title to Ilia Topuria. This time, Volkanovski takes on Brazil’s Diego Lopes for the vacant 145-pound crown, which Topuria has vacated to move up to lightweight. Volkanovski will have his hands full with strong contender Diego Lopes, who has won five straight fights since dropping his UFC debut. The veteran Aussie, who has lost three of his last four fights, is the slight favorite to win.
Bet on Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes with 1xBet
MMA: UFC Featherweight Championship
Where to Watch: ESPN+ PPV
Venue: Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Date: 13.04.2025 06:00
Alexander Volkanovski
The 36-year-old Alexander Volkanovski has lost consecutive fights and has one victory from his last four coming into this bout. The Aussie, who made five successful title defenses at featherweight, lost twice to Islam Makhachev in his failed bid for the lightweight crown before being knocked out in the second round by Ilia Topuria last year to lose his featherweight crown. Volkanovski won the featherweight title in 2020 with a win over Max Holloway. His five defenses included three fights against Holloway, which “The Great” won by decision. One of the most decorated featherweights in MMA, Volkanovski has the second-longest win streak in UFC Featherweight division history with eleven victories. Volkanovski is a relentless striker and has the highest striking differential in the division.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 36
- Height: 5’6”
- Reach: 71.5”
- Weight: 145 lbs (66kg)
- Record: 26-4
Diego Lopes
The 30-year-old Brazilian has experienced a meteoric rise in the UFC since his 2023 debut. In six fights in the company, Diego Lopes has won five and lost one. Debuting in the elite promotion on a five-day notice, Lopes lost a unanimous decision to Movsar Evloev. But he showed flashes of his well-developed jiu-jitsu in that defeat to discerning watchers. Following that defeat, Lopes, who fights out of Mexico, went on a tear, submitting Gavin Tucker, knocking out Pat Sabatini and Sodiq Yusuf, and winning impressive decisions over Dan Ige and Brian Ortega. The former Dana White alum is the number three-ranked contender in the featherweight class.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 30
- Height: 5'11"
- Reach: 72.5"
- Weight: 145 lbs (66kg)
- Record: 26-6
Betting Odds
Alexander Volkanovski is a 1.80 favorite on Bet365, which has Diego Lopes as a 2.00 underdog. Betway has over 4.5 at 1.75 odds and Diego Lopes to win by knockout at 4.10. On 1xbet, Volkanovski to win in rounds 1-3 is 4.5 odds while the fight to go the distance is 2.1. Read more here.
Bet on Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes with 1xBet
