New UFC Featherweight Champion to be Crowned in Miami
The UFC will be returning to South Florida in April to crown a new Featherweight champion.
Dana White went live on social media Wednesday night with major news about the UFC 145 lbs. division. Featherweight champion Lila Topuria for several reasons has decided his title and make the move north 10 lbs. to Lightweight. While Topuria’s future remains in question. The UFC wasted no time putting a plan in place so that throne isn’t vacant for long.
At UFC 314 on April 12th at the Kaseya Center in Miami former Featherweight king Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski will battle Diego Lopes with the vacant title up for grabs. During his reign as champion Volkanovski put five successful defenses on the board including two over Max Holloway. Lopes is on a five-fight win streak since falling just short in his debut on short notice. Lopes’s popularity hit a fever pitch in 2024 because of his epic decision to face Dan Ige on hours’ notice at UFC 303 after his original opponent, Brian Ortega withdraw.
In a five-round co-main event former Bellator Lightweight champion “Iron” Michael Chandler faces England’s Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett. Chandler is an explosive athlete with power in his hands and a division one wrestling background who’s been in the Fight of the Night in three of his last four fights. Pimblett is 6-0 in the UFC with wins over former champion Tony Ferguson and a submission of Bobby Green that broke him into the rankings.
Former interim Featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez will serve as the welcoming party for former two division Bellator champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Plus, at Welterweight number 10 ranked Geoff Neall will square off against number 12 ranked Carlos Prates who was one of 2024’s standout performers.
UFC 314 Fight Card
- Vacant Featherweight Title: Alexander Volkanovski (26-4) vs. Diego Lopes (26-6)
- Lightweight: Michael Chandler (23-9) vs. Paddy Pimblett (22-3)
- Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez (19-5) vs. Patrico Freire (36-7)
- Welterweight: Geoff Neal (16-6) vs. Carlos Prates (21-6)
- Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov (30-9) vs. Dominick Reyes (14-4)
- Featherweight: Dan Ige (18-9) vs. Sean Woodson (13-1-1)
- Women’s Strawweight: Virna Jandiroba (21-3) vs. Xiaonan Yan (19-4)
- Lightweight: Chase Hooper (15-3-1) vs. Jim Miller (38-18)
- Featherweight: Darren Elkins (29-11) vs. Julian Erosa (30-11)
- Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas (10-2) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-9)
- Flyweight: Sumudaerji (16-7) vs. Mitch Paoso (9-2)
- Lightweight: Alberto Montez (10-1) vs. Roberto Romero (8-4-1)
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