UFC 314 FAQ: Why is Volkanovski vs. Lopes for a vacant featherweight title?

The Octagon returns to Miami this weekend and a new featherweight champion will be crowned when Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes meet in the main event of UFC 314.

Saturday’s card sees Michael Chandler back in action in a five-round lightweight co-main event against English star Paddy Pimblett, who’s looking to improve to 7-0 in the UFC.

UFC 314 takes place at the Kaseya Center in South Florida and also features a heated main card grudge match, the anticipated debut of a former Bellator MMA champion, plus several matchups that carry significant title picture implications.

Will we see Volkanovski become a two-time champion at 145 pounds, or will Lopes extend his impressive winning streak by starting a brand-new era in the division? Can Chandler prove he’s still a top lightweight talent or does “Paddy the Baddy” come through with the biggest win of his career?

With all that in mind, below are some key questions and everything you need to know this week ahead of UFC 314.

WHY IS A VACANT TITLE UP FOR GRABS?

Ilia Topuria will officially vacate the undisputed featherweight championship once Volkanovski vs. Lopes begins. The 28-year-old undefeated Spanish star announced in February his plans to move up to the lightweight division and vacate the title he won when he knocked out Volkanovski 14 months ago at UFC 298. Topuria, who recently announced a new “La Leyenda” nickname, followed that win up with an equally impressive knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308 this past October for his first and only title defence.

WHY VOLKANOVSKI?

It’s a fair question, even though Volk’s reputation and legacy were already cemented as Hall of Fame-calibre before he lost the title. Many consider Volkanovski the division’s greatest champion with notable wins over Jose Aldo, Max Holloway (thrice), Yair Rodriguez, Brian Ortega, Chan Sung Jung and Chad Mendes. However, it is rare for a fighter, regardless of their career accomplishments, to earn a title shot coming off one knockout loss, let alone two in a row.

Before UFC 298, he was knocked out by Islam Makhachev when he accepted a short-notice rematch with the lightweight champion at UFC 294. Volkanovski has lost three of his past four overall and will turn 37 later this year. No fighter aged 35 or older has ever won a UFC title fight in the men’s featherweight division.

WHY LOPES?

Simply put, because he has earned a title shot. Lopes, 30, has won five consecutive bouts in the past 20 months, including 2024 victories over Sodiq Yusuff (UFC 300), Dan Ige (UFC 303) and Brian Ortega (UFC 306). The Brazilian fan favourite is the No. 3-ranked contender at 145 pounds behind Volkanovski and Holloway, and he has one of the more exciting fighting styles in the lighter weight classes.

WHO ELSE IS ON THE CARD?

The featherweight division isn’t only featured in the main event. Talent from the 145-pound class is all throughout the lineup.

Jean Silva will attempt to give Bryce Mitchell his comeuppance for some recent controversial remarks made by Mitchell. Preceding that grudge match is the debut of Bellator great Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, who’ll take on one-time interim titleholder Yair Rodriguez. The prelims will be headlined by Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson and have Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa. 

Also on the preliminary card, different lightweight eras collide when all-time UFC wins leader Jim Miller, 41, takes on streaking 25-year-old Chase Hooper.

Miller made his UFC debut in 2008 when Hooper was nine years old. Miller submitted Damon Jackson in November and is 6-2 overall in the past four years, while Hooper has won four in a row and is coming off a first-round submission win over Clay Guida on what was the eve of Guida’s 43rd birthday. Miller is 27-17 with one no-contest in the UFC alone. Miller already had 27 pro bouts on his record when Hooper (15-3-1) made his pro debut in 2017.

Projected UFC 314 bout order…

MAIN CARD

-- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes

-- Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett

-- Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva

-- Patricio Pitbull vs. Yair Rodriguez

-- Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes

PRELIMINARY CARD

-- Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson

-- Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba

-- Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper

-- Sedriques Dumas vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk

-- Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa

-- Su Mudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo

-- Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio

-- Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan

HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES TO THE CARD?

The card has stayed mostly intact, although late last month, a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates was cancelled due to a Neal injury. Prates will instead face Ian Machado Garry in a Fight Night main event later this month.

Also, a scheduled featherweight bout between Alberto Montes and Roberto Romero was moved from the UFC 314 prelims to the UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates card on April 26.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING DURING FIGHT WEEK?

Media Day: Official media events begin Wednesday when participating athletes will speak with gathered reporters at the UFC Apex. Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter is in Miami and will have one-on-one interviews with the stars of UFC 314 all throughout the week.

Pre-fight press conference: UFC 314 athletes will be on stage Thursday beginning at approximately 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. Scheduled participants include main card fighters Alexander Volkanovski, Diego Lopes, Michael Chandler, Paddy Pimblett, Yair Rodriguez, Patricio Pitbull, Bryce Mitchell, Jean Silva, Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes. The event will be available to stream live on Sportsnet+.

Ceremonial weigh-in: Several hours after the official weigh-in wraps up on Friday, UFC 314 fighters will face off with their respective opponents in front of fans at Kaseya Center on the eve of the event. This will also be available to stream live on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.

The fights: UFC 314 preliminary card coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT Saturday with the pay-per-view main card set to start at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

WHO'S ON THE CALL?

It’ll be rinse and repeat since the pay-per-view card takes place in the United States. Jon Anik, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier will serve as the commentary team during the broadcast, with Anik on play-by-play and Rogan and Cormier providing commentary and analysis. Bruce Buffer will perform in-cage announcing with Megan Olivi as the UFC’s official backstage reporter.