MIAMI – Alexander Volkanovski wasn’t picky in his first title reign, and he will carry that same energy heading into his second.
Volkanovski (27-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) won the vacant featherweight title on Saturday night, defeating top contender Diego Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 314, which took place at Kaseya Center.
This victory marks his second title reign, as he was previously UFC featherweight champion from 2019 through early 2024. Volkanovski is happy to be champion once again, but not entirely satisfied with the way he got it done.
“I feel like he was there to be hit. I feel like I could’ve done a lot more,” Volkanovski said at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference. “I just didn’t pull the trigger as much as I’d like – even though there were shots, I just stick out the jab, and it was right there. I could’ve done a lot more, but I’m my hardest critic.
“I’ll watch it back, and then we’ll see, but obviously everyone kind of counting me out, ‘Oh, is he done?’ Obviously I took some shots and I didn’t go lights out. That’s good. A lot of people probably thinking that’s what would’ve happened, so I guess I’m glad I got to feel that bounce back from a little adversity.”
As far as what’s next, Volkanovski acknowledged Movsar Evloev and Yair Rodriguez, as the two main candidates to be the next challenger.
“Yair was saying he wants the title shot,” Volkanovski said. “He’s a good dude. I like him a lot. If the UFC want to give it to him, I’m not going to stop that for him, but yeah, if I’d be honest, before that fight, I don’t think he’d be getting the shot. Now that he’s calling it, I’m not going to be the one saying no. I’m going to leave everything to the UFC. Obviously you’ve got Mosvar, he’s undefeated, and I would love to that that zero. We got to see what the UFC says.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
