“Nature is healing” – Fans react as $545K ‘Drake Curse’ gets broken by Alexander Volkanovski with stunning UFC 314 win

Alexander Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title at UFC 314, defeating Diego Lopes via unanimous decision in a dominant fight. The former pound-for-pound king silenced critics by outclassing the dangerous contender and proving that his championship pedigree is still there. Volkanovski also broke the infamous ‘Drake Curse‘, delighting fans who celebrated his victory and return to the top of the featherweight.

Going into the fight, Volkanovski had suffered two consecutive losses, which positioned him as the underdog among many analysts. Despite this, popular rapper Drake showed faith in the Aussie fighter, placing a bold $545K bet on Volkanovski to win. Many feared the dreaded Drake curse would strike again, but Volkanovski defied expectations and silenced all his vocal doubters.

The infamous Drake Curse in UFC refers to fighters losing after Drake publicly supports or bets on them before bouts. One notable example is when Drake backed Israel Adesanya against Alex Pereira, only to see Adesanya suffer a shocking defeat. Fans began associating Drake’s support with bad luck, as several fighters lost following his endorsement or high-profile betting.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD AGAIN 🌎@AlexVolkanovski is now a 2x UFC Featherweight Champion!

[ #UFC314 ] pic.twitter.com/pWf2OwHhTg

— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025

Though often playful, the curse gained traction due to repeated losses coinciding with Drake’s involvement in UFC betting. However, there have been a few rare exceptions, and Volkanovski’s impressive performance at UFC 314 became one of them. Volk entered the fight in peak condition and proved once again why he’s considered one of the greatest fighters ever. 

Fight fans react to Alexander Volkanovski winning at UFC 314

From the start, Alexander Volkanovski looked sharp, using elite fight IQ and experience to systematically outclass the dangerous contender Diego Lopes. Volkanovski controlled the distance masterfully, landing sharp jabs and slick combinations that kept him ahead on the judges’ scorecards throughout. Lopes, known for his knockout power, was constantly threatened with wild heavy swings that could have ended the fight instantly.

Despite the danger, Volkanovski stayed composed and executed his game plan with precision, showcasing championship-level composure under immense pressure. Lopes did score a knockdown and was eager to stand and bang with Volk, but the Aussie was too smart for that. Nevertheless, here are some reactions from fight fans.

NATURE IS HEALING

CHAMP VOLK IS BACK 👑#UFC314 pic.twitter.com/4E8FsrdRol

— Gio (@giotorra) April 13, 2025

Volk might beat the 35 year old curse and Drake curse wow generational

— Trung (@VietMarxist18) April 13, 2025

He broke the Drake curse. He truly is the goat.

— Ryan Fedrau (@the_fed_23) April 13, 2025

Beat the Drake curse

— Ernie The Cowboys Fan (@E_TheCowboysFan) April 13, 2025

"Adversity is a privilege" – Volk

— Crash Test Dummy Token (@CrashTestDummyT) April 13, 2025

Diego came to scrap but Volk came to collect. Great fight. CONGRATS VOLK 🔥🔥

— VFAM (@vfam_meta) April 13, 2025

I think we can agree that Volk is higher than Khabib now

— CALLMEFANTA (@ITSDAFANTA) April 13, 2025

Don’t care what anyone says. Volk is the GOAT. Fuck Ilia

— Allibuoy (@Allibuoy72540) April 13, 2025

As expected, fight fans were extremely hyped and impressed by Volkanovski for putting on an incredible performance and beating the Drake Curse. At the age of 36, Volk became the first fighter to win the belt in the lower UFC weights.

Did Alexander Volkanovski have one of the biggest comebacks in UFC history?

Alexander Volkanovski’s dominance in the featherweight division established him as one of the most skilled champions in UFC history. However, back-to-back losses raised serious doubts among fans and analysts about whether his reign at the top was finally over. Many questioned his ability to recover, speculating that age, damage, and pressure had finally caught up to the Aussie warrior.

However, Volkanovski silenced all doubters at UFC 314, showcasing elite composure and resilience to defeat the dangerous contender Diego Lopes. His remarkable comeback proved why he’s considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of this generation without question. His post-fight speech was emotional and motivational for his fans, who wished for him to rise again.

Related: Is Alexander Volkanovski a chef? Learn about UFC featherweight champ’s impressive cooking skills