Tag: UFC 314

Diego Lopes Talks Accomplishing Dreams By Fighting for UFC Gold against Alexander Volkanovski

Diego Lopes Talks Accomplishing Dreams By Fighting for UFC Gold against Alexander VolkanovskiDiego Lopes is one win away from achieving his dream. In a blockbuster announcement made by UFC CEO Dana…

Diego Lopes Talks Accomplishing Dreams By Fighting for UFC Gold against Alexander Volkanovski

Diego Lopes is one win away from achieving his dream.

In a blockbuster announcement made by UFC CEO Dana White on Wednesday, featherweight titleholder Ilia Topuria has vacated his belt in favor of a move to lightweight where he will inevitably challenge that division’s top dog, Islam Makhachev.

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As a result, UFC 314 will see a new featherweight champion crowned when ex-titleholder Alexander Volkanovksi returns to the Octagon for a clash with Lopes inside the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

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Reacting to the news on social media, Lopes didn’t offer much thought on Topuria’s shocking decision to bail on the featherweight division after just one title defense. Instead, the Brazilian chose to focus on the task at hand and show appreciation for the opportunity he’s been presented with.

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“I have worked like no one else in recent years, I have accepted challenges and dares that the UFC has put in front of me, I have said yes in every situation, even when it was not favorable for me.” Lopes wrote on X. “In less than 2 years within the UFC I will have my opportunity for the title. I will not fail. Dream, believe and make it happen.”

Diego Lopes rides into UFC 314 on a five-fight win streak

Lopes goes into his first UFC title fight riding a five-fight win streak inside the Octaton, his most recent victory coming against Brian Ortega in September. Before that, he racked up a series of impressive showings against Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, Sodiq Yusuff, and Dan Ige.

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As for Volkanovski, this will be his first time competing since suffering a pair of brutal back-to-back knockouts last year against Topuria and Makhachev—the two men rumored to fight for the lightweight strap as early as International Fight Week.

‘From McGregor To Pimblett In Less Than A Year’ – Fans React To Michael Chandler Co-Headlining UFC 314 vs. ‘The Baddy’

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has his first assignment of 2025 in the calendar, and it unsurprisingly won’t see the promotion revisiting plans for him to face Conor McGregor. After waiting a considerable time for a showdown with the Irishman, Chandler finally moved on by rematching Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 last November. A second […]

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has his first assignment of 2025 in the calendar, and it unsurprisingly won’t see the promotion revisiting plans for him to face Conor McGregor.

After waiting a considerable time for a showdown with the Irishman, Chandler finally moved on by rematching Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 last November.

A second defeat to “Do Bronx” has left the former Bellator champion with a 2-4 record under the UFC banner and outside the championship conversation at 155 pounds.

He’ll look to rectify that in 2025, starting with a five-round co-main event opposite one of the division’s most prominent rising names in Paddy Pimblett.

That bout was revealed by Dana White among a slew of announcements Thursday night, with Chandler and Pimblett slated to co-headline the UFC 314 pay-per-view in Miami on April 12.

Fans were quick to give their thoughts on the news, taking to social media with predictions for the battle between experience and youth.

Many focused on the bout marking Chandler’s second since the canceled McGregor fight last July, while others went back and forth with their takes on who will emerge victorious inside Kaseya Center.

‘From McGregor To Pimblett In Less Than A Year’ – Fans React To Michael Chandler Co-Headlining UFC 314 vs. ‘The Baddy’

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has his first assignment of 2025 in the calendar, and it unsurprisingly won’t see the promotion revisiting plans for him to face Conor McGregor. After waiting a considerable time for a showdown with the Irishman, Chandler finally moved on by rematching Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 last November. A second […]

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has his first assignment of 2025 in the calendar, and it unsurprisingly won’t see the promotion revisiting plans for him to face Conor McGregor.

After waiting a considerable time for a showdown with the Irishman, Chandler finally moved on by rematching Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 last November.

A second defeat to “Do Bronx” has left the former Bellator champion with a 2-4 record under the UFC banner and outside the championship conversation at 155 pounds.

He’ll look to rectify that in 2025, starting with a five-round co-main event opposite one of the division’s most prominent rising names in Paddy Pimblett.

That bout was revealed by Dana White among a slew of announcements Thursday night, with Chandler and Pimblett slated to co-headline the UFC 314 pay-per-view in Miami on April 12.

Fans were quick to give their thoughts on the news, taking to social media with predictions for the battle between experience and youth.

Many focused on the bout marking Chandler’s second since the canceled McGregor fight last July, while others went back and forth with their takes on who will emerge victorious inside Kaseya Center.

Ilia Topuria Vacates UFC Featherweight Title, Volkanovski vs. Lopes Announced

Ilia Topuria is officially moving up to the lightweight division, and a fight for his newly vacated UFC featherweight title is already set. Topuria outlined his intentions to achieve two-division glory soon after capturing the 145-pound crown at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski last February. And after just one successful defense opposite Max Holloway, the […]

Ilia Topuria is officially moving up to the lightweight division, and a fight for his newly vacated UFC featherweight title is already set.

Topuria outlined his intentions to achieve two-division glory soon after capturing the 145-pound crown at the expense of Alexander Volkanovski last February. And after just one successful defense opposite Max Holloway, the Spaniard suggested his time in the division was done.

That’s turned out to be the case, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming Thursday that Topuria has indeed relinquished the featherweight belt ahead of a permanent move up.

With that, a clash for the championship between former titleholder Volkanovski and surging contender Diego Lopes will take place at UFC 314 in Miami on April 12.

Patrício Pitbull Signs With UFC, Debuts Against Yair Rodríguez At UFC 314 In Miami

Patrício Pitbull is on his way to the UFC at long last. After months of being at odds with PFL executives over his frustration with limited fight opportunities, Pitbull was released from his contract last month, officially closing the chapter on his rocky tenure with the promotion. The former Bellator featherweight champion has long expressed […]

Patrício Pitbull is on his way to the UFC at long last.

After months of being at odds with PFL executives over his frustration with limited fight opportunities, Pitbull was released from his contract last month, officially closing the chapter on his rocky tenure with the promotion.

The former Bellator featherweight champion has long expressed his eagerness to join the UFC, and that moment has finally arrived.

After a report from Japanese media outlet MMAPLANET that claimed Pitbull has signed with the UFC was deleted and branded a mistake, CEO Dana White confirmed just hours on that the Brazilian is indeed now under the organization’s banner.

And the MMA legend already has his debut set, joining a stacked UFC 314 lineup in Miami on April 12 opposite former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodríguez.

The 37-year-old Brazilian last competed at Bellator Champions Series Belfast in March 2024, where he delivered a dominant third-round knockout victory over Jeremy Kennedy to successfully defend his title.

Pitbull spent the majority of his career dominating Bellator’s featherweight division, holding the championship on three separate occasions, while also briefly reigning as the promotion’s lightweight titleholder. He currently holds a professional record of 36-7, with 13 wins by knockout and 11 by submission.

UFC Matchmaking Bulletin: UFC Seattle Card Undergoes Major Changes

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards. With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week. Between Monday, February 10, and Sunday, […]

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring all the additions to upcoming fight cards.

With events being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

Between Monday, February 10, and Sunday, February 16, a number of fights were made official by the UFC or reported as being in the works by reputable sources.

For those matchups, including the planned main event for the Apex on April 5, check out the list below:

But it wasn’t all positive, with four fights falling through or being adjusted: