Alexander Volkanovski is gearing up to reclaim his place at the top by taking on Diego Lopes. On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White made the big announcement: Ilia Topuria has officially vacated the 145-pound title. Topuria’s decision comes as he sets his sights on a new challenge—moving up a weight class to face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship later this year.
With the featherweight title now up for grabs, Volkanovski is set to headline UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami, Florida. It’s the first time since his back-to-back knockout losses to Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev last year that we’ll see ‘The Great’ in action. This time, he’s going head-to-head with No. 3 ranked contender Diego Lopes to claim the vacant featherweight title.
Volkanovski is determined to bounce back from his recent defeats, and he’s made it clear that he fully intends to overpower Lopes in their upcoming bout. Speaking candidly on his YouTube channel, Volkanovski shared, “Lopes is obviously a dangerous dude. He presents a bit of a different challenge compared to Ilia. Both are dangerous fighters, of course, but I’m pumped for this one. I feel amazing and know I’m only getting better, which is a scary prospect for Lopes.”
In a respectful yet confident manner, Volkanovski addressed his opponent directly: “I reckon Lopes is in for a tough fight. He’s a gamer, a great guy, and I have a lot of respect for him. Sure, he’s probably expecting to take home the belt, but I’m sorry, mate, it’s not happening. I’m glad you’re getting this shot, but the title isn’t leaving me. Sorry, mate.”
On the flip side, Diego Lopes comes into this fight riding high on a five-fight win streak. His latest triumph was a dominant decision win over Brian Ortega at UFC 306, and he has also defeated fighters like Dan Ige, Sodiq Yusuff, Pat Sabatini, and Gavin Tucker, making him a formidable challenge for Volkanovski.
As the date approaches, both fighters prepare to put it all on the line, and fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an electrifying showdown for the featherweight title in Miami.
