Tag: Alexander Volkanovski

Joe Lopez: Movsar Evloev won’t be able to handle UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski’s strength

Both UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski and his coach are on board with Movsar Evloev getting the next title shot.

Both UFC champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] and his coach are on board with [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] getting the next title shot.

Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) reclaimed the featherweight title when he defeated Diego Lopes (27-6 MMA, 6-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in Saturday’s UFC 314 main event at Kaseya Center from Miami.

Volkanovski’s head coach [autotag]Joe Lopez[/autotag] is aware of Evloev’s (19-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) strong grappling skills, but thinks his star student will be too strong for him.

“I think he is a good wrestler, but he’s not a – what would you call him? He’s good at getting people down, but he doesn’t really do much with it once he gets them down,” Lopez told Submission Radio. “And that’s what I guess makes him boring … So he just hangs on to them, and I don’t think he’s going to be able to hang onto Volk. Volk is just so strong, and his scrambling skills, and his jiu-jitsu and wrestling are another level. Volk just picks things up, if you look at the the beginning of the camp, when we break things down, and we see what each person’s really good at.

“So we’ve got Diego. Diego’s got a pretty good guard. The way he switches from armbars to triangles to sweeps, he’s very good at. He’s got a really good repertoire there, and at the beginning with the guys that we had, Volk was getting stuck in there. (But) by the end of the camp, Volk was not having any problems at all in those positions, and I think that’s what Diego felt when Alex took him down – that it’s not a place he wants to be with Alex on top of him because like I said, Alex’s pressure when he’s on top, he feels like a heavyweight on top of you, and then he just doesn’t hang onto you. He’s just looking to land some bombs or an elbow or something on you. So, you don’t want to be on the bottom when Alex is on top.”

With Volkanovski promising to make a quick turnaround to face Evloev with a win over Lopes, the undefeated contender expects the new champion to live up to his promise.

“Congratulations on an excellent performance, you’re a true champion! Now let’s see what your word is worth! @alexvolkanovski #UFC314.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: UFC 314 fallout for Volkanovski and Pimblett, plus GFL’s debacle and more

On the latest episode of Spinning Back Clique, the panel looks back at UFC 314, talks about the latest major MMA news and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia, along with special guest coach Eric Nicksick from Xtreme Couture, live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • UFC 314 saw the vacant featherweight belt go to [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] when he beat [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]. Also, UFC star [autotag]Paddy Pimblett [/autotag] took a giant leap in his career when he destroyed former Bellator champion [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] in the co-main event. We look back at those bouts, plus many other key fights on the card.
  • The fallout of fighters leaving the PFL, particularly ones who came over from Bellator, continues. The latest is Aaron Pico, who has signed with the UFC. We talk about his potential there in the featherweight division.
  • She retired, but we know how that goes in MMA. Former UFC two-division champion Amanda Nunes told MMA Junkie she’s fully prepared to return to fight the winner of Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison. She’s also going into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer. But should she come back?
  • If it ever was fair to call something a dumpster fire, now might be the time. The Global Fight League made giant promises, “signed” giant names and made a big fuss over fighter revenue splits and a “live” draft. Then it canceled both its shows in Los Angeles next month because it can’t pay the bills.

Yair Rodriguez pushes Diego Lopes grudge match aside for UFC title fight: ‘Right now is fighting for that belt’

Yair Rodriguez snapped a two-fight skid at UFC 314. Now could he be in line for a title shot?

MIAMI – While fight fans might be interested in the grudge match, [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag] prefers a rematch.

Following his UFC 314 win over Patricio Freire on Saturday at Kaseya Center in Miami, Rodriguez (20-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) took a look at the featherweight land – and it’s a no-brainer what he wants next.

“Yeah, in the eyes of the fans (they want me vs. [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]), of course,” Rodriguez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “If you ask me, if you’re in my position right now, the beef can stay aside for now. The only thing that I’m looking for right now is fighting for that belt.”

Rodriguez and Lopes are two wildly popular fighters in Mexico and Latin America, but seem to have bad blood between them. While an in-depth breakdown of the rivalry has not yet been explained, it seems Lopes and Rodriguez’s teammate and friend Marco Beltran have past history.

While the beef may continue to be a sideshow, Rodriguez wants to lock in a rematch vs. [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC), who reclaimed the featherweight throne with a decision win over Lopes in Saturday’s main event.

With the UFC headed to Guadalajara, Mexico for a pay-per-view in September, Rodriguez thinks the stars could align for a perfect scenario.

“Brother, Volkanovski has fights all over around the world,” Rodriguez said. “He hasn’t fought in Mexico. Guadalajara isn’t super high elevation. I think it makes sense for the UFC to bring a huge event, numbered event in Guadalajara. I think Volkanovski wll be able to run it back with me. I think he will be happy to do that.”

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Rodriguez and Volkanovski fought in a title unification bout at UFC 290 in July 2023. Volkanovski defeated Rodriguez via third-round TKO. Rodriguez competed once between that fight and Saturday’s, which was a loss to Brian Ortega. However, Rodriguez indicated in the cage after the fight UFC CBO Hunter Campbell previously promised him a title fight if he got through Freire (36-8 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

 

 

Alexander Volkanovski down for Yair Rodriguez or Mosvar Evloev after UFC 314 title win

Alexander Volkanovski reflects on his UFC 314 title win against Diego Lopes, and what’s next for his storied MMA career.

MIAMI – [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] wasn’t picky in his first title reign, and he will carry that same energy heading into his second.

Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) won the vacant featherweight title on Saturday night, defeating top contender Diego Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 314, which took place at Kaseya Center.

This victory marks his second title reign, as he was previously UFC featherweight champion from 2019 through early 2024. Volkanovski is happy to be champion once again, but not entirely satisfied with the way he got it done.

“I feel like he was there to be hit. I feel like I could’ve done a lot more,” Volkanovski said at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference. “I just didn’t pull the trigger as much as I’d like – even though there were shots, I just stick out the jab, and it was right there. I could’ve done a lot more, but I’m my hardest critic.

“I’ll watch it back, and then we’ll see, but obviously everyone kind of counting me out, ‘Oh, is he done?’ Obviously I took some shots and I didn’t go lights out. That’s good. A lot of people probably thinking that’s what would’ve happened, so I guess I’m glad I got to feel that bounce back from a little adversity.”

As far as what’s next, Volkanovski acknowledged [autotag]Movsar Evloev[/autotag] and [autotag]Yair Rodriguez [/autotag], as the two main candidates to be the next challenger.

“Yair was saying he wants the title shot,” Volkanovski said. “He’s a good dude. I like him a lot. If the UFC want to give it to him, I’m not going to stop that for him, but yeah, if I’d be honest, before that fight, I don’t think he’d be getting the shot. Now that he’s calling it, I’m not going to be the one saying no. I’m going to leave everything to the UFC. Obviously you’ve got Mosvar, he’s undefeated, and I would love to that that zero. We got to see what the UFC says.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

UFC 314 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Michael Chandler, Paddy Pimblett combine for $12,000

Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett combined for a $12,000 payout under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program at UFC 314.

MIAMI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 314 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $300,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 314 took place at Kaseya Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 314 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Sean Woodson[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Virna Jandiroba[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Chase Hooper[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Julian Erosa[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Darren Elkins[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Su Mudaerji[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Mitch Raposo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Marco Tulio[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Tresean Gore[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Nora Cornolle[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Hailey Cowan[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2025 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $2,579,500
2024 total: $8,280,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $33,597,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

UFC 314 bonuses: Volkanovski vs. Lopes ends Fight of the Night drought

After four consecutive events without a Fight of the Night bonus, UFC 314’s title fight delivered a banger worthy of $50,000.

The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday’s UFC 314, including a Fight of the Night for the first time in a month.

After UFC 314, which took place at Kaseya Center in Miami, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000. Check out the winners below.

Performance of the Night: Jean Silva

Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell via submission (ninja choke) – Round 2, 3:52

[autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) delivered on his promise to batter Bryce Mitchell with a striking onslaught then ended with a ninja choke in the second round of the featherweight main card bout.

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Performance of the Night: Paddy Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:07

[autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) picked up his fifth Performance of the Night bonus in seven octagon appearances when he thoroughly dominated, bloodied then finished Michael Chandler with a third-round TKO in the lightweight co-main event.

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Fight of the Night: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes

Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) and [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] (27-6 MMA, 6-1 UFC) closed the show with a five-round thriller which featured some memorable moments and big momentum swings. Ultimately, Volkanovski got his hand raised by unanimous decision to become the first fight to ever win an undisputed title after back-to-back losses.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

UFC 314 results: Alexander Volkanovski reclaims throne through hard-fought battle with Diego Lopes

Surprise, surprise – Alexander Volkanovski is back upon the UFC featherweight throne.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] is atop the throne once again.

In the UFC 314 main event Saturday, Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) defeated [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] (27-6 MMA, 6-1 UFC) via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46). The vacant featherweight title fight took place at Kaseya Center in Miami.

Entering the fight, questions were raised about Volkanovski’s chin and how he’d bounce back from back-to-back knockout losses. However, from the opening bell, Volkanovski showed no fear. He marched toward Lopes in an aggressive attack.

In Round 2, he stunned Lopes with a punch that sent the Brazilian-born Mexico resident flying backward into the cage. Just when it looked like a clear Volkanovsk round, however, Lopes muddied the waters. In the final seconds, he dropped Volkanovski who scrambled back up to his feet.

Volkanovski regained clear control in Round 3, as he went back to his technical striking, agile footwork, and quick head movement. Lopes had his strongest round in Round 4, as his glove dug in Volkanovski’s eyelid. He then cracked Volkanovski with a big uppercut that but the former (and now current) champion on the retreat.

In the fifth round, both men landed good licks. However, when the dust settled it was a clear-cut decision for Volkanovski, who enters his second stint as champion. His first championship reign stretched from December 2019 to February 2023 and included five title defenses.

Volkanovski lost the title in February 2024 to Ilia Topuria, who later vacated the title after a knockout win vs. Max Holloway with intentions of moving to lightweight.

For Lopes, the loss snaps a five-fight winning streak. Prior to Saturday’s fight he had not lost since his UFC debut in May 2023.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 314 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

‘What a legend’: Fighters react to Alexander Volkanovski’s title win over Diego Lopes at UFC 314

The MMA community reacted to Alexander Volkanovski claiming Ilia Topuria’s vacant belt with a UFC 314 win over Diego Lopes.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] is just the second two-time featherweight champion in history after regaining gold with a win over [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] in Saturday’s UFC 314 headliner.

After Ilia Topuria vacated the strap to move up to lightweight, Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) reassumed his position at the top of the 145-pound division with a unanimous decision victory over Lopes (26-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in the main event at Kaseya Center in Miami.

It’s Volkanovski’s first victory since July 2023 after he was knocked out by Topuria and Islam Makhachev in consecutive fights.

Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Volkanovski’s title triumph over Lopes at UFC 314.

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Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes at UFC 314: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Alexander Volkanovski’s win over Diego Lopes at UFC 314.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s win over [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] at UFC 314 at Kaseya Center in Miami. (Photos by Sam Navarro, USA Today Sports; MMA Junkie; UFC)

What time is Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes? Walkouts for UFC 314 main event

Here’s when to expect Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes to make their cage walks at UFC 314 in Miami.

A new UFC featherweight champion will be crowned when [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] and [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] step into the octagon. Their 145-pound title fight scheduled for five rounds will take place Saturday, April 12 at UFC 314 from Kaseya Center in Miami.

This fight between Volkanovski (26-5 MMA, 13-4 UFC) and Lopes (27-6 MMA, 6-1 UFC) came together after Ilia Topuria agreed to vacate the featherweight title as he prepares to move up to lightweight.

Volkanovski, 36, will enter UFC 314 looking to become a two-time champ after losing the title to Topuria by knockout in February 2024. Volkanovski should be determined to prove his career still has plenty to offer after losing three of his past four bouts. His other two losses during that span were failed attempts at claiming the lightweight title from Islam Makhachev. Volkanovski’s most recent win came in July 2023 when he finished Yair Rodriguez by third-round TKO.

Lopes, 30, will enter UFC 314 on a five-fight winning streak. His most recent result was a dominant unanimous decision win over Brian Ortega last September at UFC 306.

When does the UFC 314 fight card start?

The UFC 314 lineup consists of 13 fights. Early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET, prelims at 8 p.m. ET, and the pay-per-view main card at 10 p.m. ET.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes walkout time

  • As the main event, Volkanovski and Lopes are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 12:30 a.m. ET.
  • The fight will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.