Alexander Volkanovski proved everybody wrong Saturday.
In the main event, Volkanovski went to war for the UFC Featherweight Championship. The former started the bout off strong by using his experience to get the better of Diego, but Lopes came back with a right hand that opened a cut under Volkanovski’s right eye.
The main event was a five round slugfest, but Volkanovski out-landed Lopes and won the 155-pound belt for the second time in his career. There was doubts about Volkanovski since he walked into the bout on a two-fight skid, but the 36-year-old silenced all of the critics who doubted that he would hold another belt again.
“Man, a lot of people counted me out. Right? Coming off two knockout losses. Volkanovski said in his post-fight interview. “The 35-year-old curse, 36 years old, big break — and come back and beat a gun like Diego Lopes, who comes and brings it? Mate, it’s good to be back," a relieved Volkanovski said post-fight. "For everyone watching, hey, adversity is a privilege. You hear people talk about that all the time. It truly is. This moment is incredible.
“Look what can happen. Break records. This is s*** people are going to write books about, this is going to be movies. That type of s***, that’s what it’s all about.”
It wasn’t a good night for Bellator fighters. First, in the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett destroyed Michael Chandler. This was Paddy’s biggest fight to date and he easily dominated from beginning to end. Chandler got a few takedowns, but Pimblett quickly got back in control and ended the fight in the third round via TKO. Pimblett is now on an incredible nine-fight winning streak. Whereas Chandler is on a three-fight skid.
Former Bellator Lightweight and Featherweight World Champion Patricio Pitbull also made his debut, but Yair Rodriguez controlled the fight from beginning to end. There were moments where Pitbull would regain control, but Yair had the perfect gameplay that allowed him to hit some great strikes throughout. Yair’s win broke a two-fight skid and Pitbull starts off his UFC career off in the losing column.
Check the official results for UFC 314 below:
Main Card
Vacant featherweight championship: Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler via TKO (strikes) at 3:07 of R3
Featherweight: Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight: Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell via submission (ninja choke) at 3:52 of R2
Light heavyweight: Dominick Reyes def. Nikita Krylov via KO (punches) at 2:24 of R1
Prelims
Featherweight: Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson def. via TKO (punches) at 1:12 of R3
Strawweight: Virna Jandiroba def. Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Lightweight: Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight: Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins via TKO (punches) at 4:15 of R1
Early prelims
Middleweight: Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas by TKO (strikes) at 2:49 of R1
Flyweight: Sumudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Middleweight: Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore via TKO (strikes) at 3:16 of R2
138-pound catchweight: Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:52 of R2