Alexander Volkanovsky is a former UFC Fatherweight Champion, who ruled for more than four years, but has lost his two most recent quarrels, both by knockout. What to do to re -achieve the throne on Saturday when Volkanovski faces Diago Lopes for a blank title for a blank title for the blank title with UFC 314 (ESPN+ PPV 10 PM ET) in Miami with ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ in 8)?
Volkanovsky (26–4) has not fought since losing her title for Ilya Toppuria in February 2024. But it decided to vacate the championship with Topuriya to move to lightweight, Volkanovski will get a shot on his old belt, facing Lops (26-6), who is the winner of five fights in five battles. His most recent victory was unanimously decided on Ontime title Challenger Brian Ortega.
Volkanovski ESPN Fedarweight rankings are number 2 and lope number 4.
Brett Omkoto spoke to UFC Fatherweight Dan Ege, who is going to face Sean Woodson in the UFC 314 Prelims and who lost to Lopes last year, to get his approach to the main event. ESPN betting expert Ian Parker added insight and analysis to the UFC Main event and other complicated bets that she is characterized by Banomweight and women’s flytwate in the first round match of Friday as well as Friday’s first round matchup.
Editor’s note: The reactions are edited for brevity and clarity.
Fedarweight: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes
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Alexander Volkanovski: I’m planning to remind everyone that I have not done
Alexander Volkanovski joined the “First Tech” to discuss his upcoming title fight against Diego Lopes.
Dan ie, UFC Fatherweight
How Volkanovski wins: He should use his footwork and test the gas tank of lips in the latter period. I saw that when I fought the battle of Diego, once I started applying my footwork and found my limit, I started working when I fade. This is where Volk wins. She is a great strategy, and her team always comes with magnificent sports plans. He needs to stay away from the explosives of lips and will have to achieve the battle in the latter period. The Ashtgone has a huge appearance of lips, which is different from someone else that I have ever fought. He throws everything that he has got with 100%, and this is the place where I am a little afraid of Volkanovski. But if he uses his footwork and angles and wears on the cardio of lips, I think he can take late.
How Lops Wins: The key for that is just nothing to change. Uproot it. The way Volkanovski has knocked in some of his previous quarrels, lips are going to give a lot of confidence. When you are fighting someone you know that you have been dropped, hurt, knocking, it gives you a little fire that you can do it yourself. Diego has electricity in his hands. He is not the most technical fighter, and that’s fine. If he tries to be technical with Volkanovsky, Volk wins all day. Do not be technical. Go there and fight. Try to hurt the dispute and man.
X Factor: It is that I talked about the presence of lips. I fought with Josh Emmet, “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, Calvin Khunta – None of them had the appearance. Lopes did everything, it hurt.
Prediction: I favor Volkanovski to win, but I do not count lips. I think there is a big chance here that he can hurt Volk in round 1 or 2.
Betting analysis
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Parker: Lops to Win (+105). Volkanovsky is not only coming from back-to-back necklaces in his career, but those deficit were both cursed. One year after the other one, he returns to the cage to take another KO artist. Lopes have power with elite GU-Jitsu skills. He rarely uses them, but they are there when needed. The question with Lopes used to be his cardio – if he could not win in round 1 – he faded – but it was not an issue in Brian Ortega but in his most recent victory. In Underdog Auds/Plus Money, I am taking lips to become new champions.
Parker’s best bet on the rest of the UFC card
Lightweight: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimbles
Chandler to Win (+125). As a mounting star as a pimble, he has yet to face the competition of Chandler levels, nor has he fought with someone who can pose a threat like Chandler. When composed (which is not very often), Chandler has a skill set to become a champion, as we have seen in many quarrels. He had been a few seconds for a few seconds by defeating Charles Olivera in his first battle in 2021 and the next year was the way to defeat Dustin Paurier. Chandler will have the benefit of wrestling, speed and electricity. The Chandler is finished until he falls or lets the pimblets take his back. In the five-round battle, there is something that he has experienced earlier-I am taking Chandler.
Fedarweight: Yire Rodriguez vs Patricio Pitbul
Rodriguez (-195) for victory. Pitbull’s octagon debut should be a beggar for 15 minutes. Pitbul benefits if he wrestles and puts Rodrigue on his back. If he can do so, he can overcome the unexpected striking of the rodgease. However, many people have tried and failed, and considering the way Pitbul has fought for years, I hope this fight is expected to remain on the feet. A Bellator MMA Legend, a win on Pitbul, will take a step close to Rodriguez.
Strawt: Yan Jyanan vs Virana Jandiroba
Jandiroba to win Jeet (-115). Number 1 looks as a contenders, it will be a fight of styles between a striker and Gregor. Jandiroba has a world-class Jiu-Jitsu, and as his career progresses, it is striking. In his last battle, the ontime title Challenger win a submission over Amanda Lamos, Jandiroba was able to use his striking to establish his ground game, which could be the best in the division. The vehicle has tremendous power in its striking, but when he is placed on his back (which is often), he just goes to play defense and stays there for a period of round. To bring this fight to the floor as soon as possible, look at Jandiroba and secure your position in line for a crack on the title.
Parker’s best bet on PFL card
Banomvet: Lindro Higar vs Josh Reckinghouse
Higar by submission or decision. In the new main event, the 2024 season finalist Tela reached the top of the card after Santos, out of the flyweight brackets of women, top seed Higo took the newcomer ratinghouse in the first round of the Banomvet tournament. Higo is a 3–1 favorite and, quite clearly, the line must be wider. Higar is good on the feet, but where she is on the ground with Excel with her Jiu-Jitsu. To take Higo down quickly, he did not get any chance to do a big punch. Higo should be able to latch a submission or control its way to win a decision.
Women’s Flyweight: Liz Carmoche vs. Ilara Joan
Karmouch to win within the distance. Carmoche, who lost in the PFL semi -finals of the previous season, is the biggest favorite on Friday’s card after three title defense in Bellator, which is on -850. On that number, I am not sure that adding it to a parling will give you a lot of additional value. However, Carmoche ended all its last four belovel quarrels and would be looking to make a statement against Joan. He will not have any benefit, no matter where the fight goes. The only question is how the carmocch becomes aggressive with quick striking in the fight.
Banomvet: Kasum Kasumov vs Justin Wetzel
Kasumov by decision. Kasumov will be looking at PFL to make his mark in Belter with his last two wins, riding a six-fight winning line. He is a pressure grapler who determines a manless speed and breaks his opponents over time. Wetzel, Grapping Department has either no slut, and has ended once in its 12-fight professional career. Do I hope to win Kasumov? Yes. However, I think this fight runs all three rounds. Kasumov is a 5–1 preferred, so you can place it in a parl and take it separately to win with the decision if you want better obstacles.
