UFC 314 has come and gone, leaving fight fans with a night to remember at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The card delivered on all fronts, but the headline-grabber was the triumphant return of featherweight legend Alexander Volkanovski. In a high-stakes, five-round battle, Volkanovski put on a masterclass to defeat Diego Lopes and reclaim the vacant featherweight title. It was a performance that not only made him the only two-time undisputed 145lbs kingpin but also quieted the doubters, who questioned whether his time at the top had passed.
With the win, Volkanovski slammed the brakes on Lopes’ momentum—many had tipped the Brazilian as the next big thing in the division. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement! Talk about breaking that ‘over 35’ curse or fulfilling his promise to his daughters, the Aussie ace attained greatness. And all of this after two tough years that saw Volkanovski suffer back-to-back defeats to Islam Makhachev at lightweight and lose his featherweight crown to Ilia Topuria, the 36-year-old reminded the world exactly who he is.
This victory marks the start of a new chapter, one that erases the shadows of recent setbacks and puts him back at the top of the 145lbs food chain. Even Islam Makhachev, the man who handed him two of those losses, tipped his cap. The lightweight champion posted on X, “Congrats @alexvolkanovski. Great comeback! Real champ in sport and life .”
Congrats @alexvolkanovski great comeback! Real champ in sport and life
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) April 13, 2025
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