Alexander Volkanovski praises nemesis Ilia Topuria’s generous gesture ahead of lightweight ambitions
With UFC featherweight Ilia Topuria opting to vacate, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will battle for the crown at UFC 314.
Follow Us
Alexander Volkanovski pitches in on Ilia Topuria relinquishing his gold (Source: IMAGO/X)
Short-notice legend and Aussie fighter Alexander Volkanovski is one of the most fearless fighters on the UFC roster. The featherweight legend has the unique opportunity to prove naysayers wrong again at UFC 314. With UFC champion Ilia Topuria giving up stakes to his 145-pound strap, Volk will now face Diego Lopes for the vacant belt.
Ilia Topuria knocked out Volk at UFC 298 last year to start his reign. Former five-time defending champ Alexander Volkanovski has remained angsty for another title shot. However, it never yet came to be, with “El Matador” defending at UFC 308, and moving up. Now, with him relinquishing, Volkanovski draws nearer to gold.
I didn’t know exactly, uh, who was going to be till not that long ago. So, uh, these decisions have just come not that long ago with it being Lopez and Ilia moving up. So, fair play to Ilya. Um, yeah, I’ll go do my thing…Maybe we could just make a bigger fight after this. So, we’ll see what happens.
Aelxander Volkanovski via his Official YT channel
Volk said that he’s known about the date in April for a while now, but not the particulars. The Aussie fighter and Lopes wanted to tread ahead and have even implied contending for the interim belt against each other. However, now those implications hit true and hard for UFC 314.
Alexander Volkanovski's reaction to Ilia Topuria vacating the belt and moving up to 155.🔥
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) February 22, 2025
"I'll go win this title and maybe we can make an even bigger rematch."
via: @alexvolkanovski / #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/KNYCCZktAr
Ilia Topuria and Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) also verbally agreed to rematch each other a number of times. Now, the Aussie legend is saying ‘Never say never.’ Volk already tried and failed his bid at dual-championship against UFC 155-pound champ Islam Makhachev. Meanwhile, Topuria has made it no secret that he’ll be shooting for the top contender spot to challenge Makhachev.
After the April 12 main event at Kaseya Center in Miami atop the UFC 314 PPV headliner, if Volk does get to snag gold, he might be warm to a champ vs. champ idea. If it happens to be Ilia Topuria holding the strap by then, it’s doubly beneficial for Volk, even though there’s limits to ‘champ champ’ aspirations now.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes: Odds and general tidbits
One more numbered card to go before Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will duke it out for the vacant UFC featherweight crown. After more than four years as divisional king, the former champion is back as a contender; all credit to Ilia Topuria.
Many felt a sense that a title rematch was in short order especially as Volk took the matchup fresh off a KO loss and under less-than-ideal circumstances. Always ready to pitch in, “The Great” made a case for other matchups. For now, Volk will have to settle with Diego Lopes.
Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) dropped his short-notice debut to Movsar Evloev at UFC 288. After that, he went on a 5-0 roll. In less than a year, he steamrolled through names like Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, Sodiq Yusuff, and Dan Ige. The Brazilian fighter defeated former title challenger Brian Ortega at UFC 306 in the Sphere, and called for a title shot.
According to DraftKings, former featherweight champion Volkanovski is a slightly bigger prop on the money line, as a -142 favorite. One of 2024’s breakout stars, Lopes, opened up as a +120 underdog. Come UFC 314, both will give it their all to shoot for gold.
Related: Ilia Topuria vows to destroy Islam Makhachev; personally ‘rejects’ Alexander Volkanovski rematch
Stay Updated!
Dibaas.M
(1446 Articles Published)