MIAMI – Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes are just one sleep away from crowning a new featherweight champion after a final pre-fight staredown at UFC 314 ceremonial weigh-ins.
Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and Lopes (26-5 MMA, 5-1 UFC) will clash in Saturday’s headliner at Kaseya Center (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN/Disney+, ESPN+) in a contest that will determine who fills the role as 145-pound champion in the wake of Ilia Topuria vacating to move up to the lightweight division.
Former champion Volkanovski, 36, will return from a nearly 14-month layoff and back-to-back losses against Topuria and Islam Makhachev in hopes of becoming a two-time undisputed titleholder. Lopes, 31, looks to continue to his trajectory to the top and claim gold less than two years after his promotional debut.
Both men have been respectful in the build to the fight, and that trend continued when they squared up for the last time before stepping in the octagon.
Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes have one last faceoff before their #UFC314 vacant title headliner.
Who leaves Miami as the new champ? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/VekhOQuFcc
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 11, 2025
Check out the video above to see the Volkanovski vs. Lopes faceoff from Friday’s UFC 314 ceremonial weigh-ins.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
