UFC 314: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes: Live round-by-round updates
A featherweight title clash between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will headline UFC 314 later this evening (April 12) at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Volkanovski (26-4) is arguably the greatest featherweight champion of all time. With wins against the likes of Max Holloway and Jose Aldo among others, few have a resume to rival 'The Great'.
The 36-year-old however is kind of in a slump at the moment. He is on a two-fight skid. Although the losses came against pound-for-pound greats Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, both ended in KOs.
Regardless, Volkanovski is among the most well-rounded fighters on the roster and is a daunting proposition for anyone who stands opposite to him in the cage.
Lopes (26-6), as Volkanovski likes to say is among the new school in the UFC. The Brazilian is an aggressive striker with elite jiu-jitsu skills to boot. He is currently on a five-fight win streak, most recently earning a dominant unanimous decision win over former title challenger Brian Ortega.
With 10 knockout and 12 submission wins to his name, many believe the 30-year-old will be too much to handle for the declining former champion.
However, the former champion is a -122 favorite for the match-up with Lopes as the +102 underdog. The main card of the event is now live. Stick with Sportskeeda for live coverage and play-by-play updates from UFC 314.
Check out the final face-off between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes below:
UFC 314: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
Round 1
Volkanovski is employing feints to keep his opponent guessing. The Former champion connects with back-to-back leg kicks, before digging in with a body kick.
A good left hand lands for 'The Great' and Lopes returns fire with an uppercut. Debilitating body shots land for the Brazilian. A big right-hand lands for the featherweight great.
Volkanovski stuns his opponent with a powerful 1-2 combination. 'The Great' engages in a clinch, and pushes his opponent against the cage before landing a knee to the head.
Back-to-back left hands to the head land for Volkanovski. The Australian takes his opponent down to the canvas and finishes the round raining down debilitating ground and pound on his opponent.
Our score: 10-9 Volkanovski, Volkanovski 10-9 overall.
Round 2
Volkanovski is in full control as round 2 commences. Lopes' work rate has diminished. The former champion attempts a level change, but this time his opponent stuffs it.
Double jabs connect for Lopes. However, the 30-year-old is having a hard time stringing up combos. Volkanovski rocks his opponent with a straight left hand.
A looping right hand stuns Lopes. Volkanosvki follows his barrage with a jab. Wow!!! a big right hand from Lopes floors his opponent. The bell signals the end of the round.
Our score: 10-9 Volkanovski, Volkanovski 20-18 overall.
Round 3
Lopes seems like he is looking for an opportunity to land a haymaker. However, 'The Great' is circling out to the right to neutralize the threat of his opponent's power hand.
Volkanovski is out jabbing his opponent, but the Australian is clearly wary of his opponent's power. Lopes eats a big left hand while trying to push his opponent back.
An overhand right lands for 'The Great'. He threatens a level change to keep his opponent on his toes. Volkanovski lands a check right hook as his opponent closes the distance. Lopes fires back with a flurry but lands few shots.
Our score: 10-9 Volkanovski, Volkanovski 30-27 overall.
Round 4
Volkanovski is clearly winning the striking battle, connecting at a very high clip. Lopes' power is still a threat. The former champion is mixing it up with striking and wrestling, denying Lopes opportunities to settle into a rhythm.
Lopes connects with a big right hand. Blood is gushing out of his eye. The Brazilian tries to go for the kill as Volkanovski retreats. 'The Great' is still connecting, but it looks like he has incurred an injury above his eye.
Lopes connects with a flurry and Volk fires back with an overhand right.
Our score: 10-9 Lopes, Volkanovski 39-37 overall.
Round 5
Lopes comes out with reckless abandon. He is employing wild overhands. A beautifully 1-2 lands for Volkanovski, Lopes returns fire with a right hand. 'The Great' connects with a right hook, Lopes complains an eye-poke, but the referee demands the fight to continue.
The former champion is using crisp jabs to keep his aggressive opponent at bay. Lops might need a knockout to win at this point. The Brazilian goes head hunting at the closing seconds of the fight.
A beautifully straight right-hand land for Volkanovski. Lopes unloads a flurry the close out the round.
Our score: 10-9 Volkanovski, Volkanovski 49-46 overall.
Official decision: Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision. (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)