The UFC featherweight division is set for a seismic shift as Dana White announced a new championship bout for UFC 314 in April. In a stunning move, current lightweight king Islam Makhachev will vacate his 155-pound strap to chase champ-champ status. This paves the way for former featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski to battle surging contender Diego Lopes for the now-vacant 145-pound crown.
Makhachev’s Bold Ambitions
Barely a year into his lightweight title reign, Islam Makhachev is already eyeing rarefied air. The Dagestani grappling ace will abdicate his throne in a bid to join the exclusive “Double Champion” club. White confirmed Makhachev’s first lightweight defense is not yet booked, but the dominant Sambo practitioner clearly has designs on cleaning out a second weight class.
Volkanovski’s Shot at Redemption
For Volkanovski, UFC 314 represents a golden opportunity to regain the belt he held for three years. The Aussie powerhouse saw his 21-fight win streak snapped by Makhachev before relinquishing the featherweight strap to Ilia Topuria. Now the “Great” looks to rebound in a big way.
“I know I’m still the best featherweight in the world. I’ll put that belt back where it belongs.”
– Alexander Volkanovski
Lopes’ Breakout Moment
Standing in Volkanovski’s way is the red-hot Diego Lopes. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has been flawless in the Octagon, rattling off five straight wins. Most recently, he dismantled perennial contender Brian Ortega in a lopsided decision. Now “The Finisher” has his crowning achievement in sight.
- 26-6 MMA record
- 5-0 UFC record
- Nine wins by submission
Pivotal Lightweight Clash
In the UFC 314 co-main event, former Bellator champ Michael Chandler welcomes UK sensation Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett to the upper echelon at 155 pounds. Chandler aims to halt a 1-4 skid while Pimblett puts his perfect UFC record on the line in a stern step-up fight.
“Pitbull” Invades the Octagon
Patricio Freire, the first simultaneous two-division titlist in Bellator history, will make his long-awaited UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez. After a decorated run with his previous employer, “Pitbull” finally brings his talents to MMA’s grandest stage in a featherweight firefight.
UFC 314 is shaping up as a night of new beginnings and momentous returns. Will Volkanovski recapture the magic? Can Lopes crash the championship party? It all goes down April 12 at Miami’s Kaseya Center.
