Dana White has announced that Alex Volkanovski will take on Diego Lopes for the undisputed UFC featherweight championship at UFC 314, in Miami. In the same announcement, which Dana revealed via Instagram live, that Ilia Topuria has vacated his 145-pound title, with plans to move up to lightweight. 

Prior to this announcement, Topuria was rumoured to be defending his title against Volkanovski at the same event in Miami, in what would have been a highly anticipated re-match between the two. This will be Volkanovski’s first fight back since losing the title to Topuria at UFC 298 in February last year in Los Angeles.

Topuria departs the featherweight division, with one successful title defence to his name, an impressive third-round TKO victory over Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi last October.

Whilst there is no official announcement on who Topuria will face next, according to Ariel Helwani, the plan is for the Spain-based fighter to challenge Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title, as early as during International Fight Week. This will be the 28-year old’s first fight back at 155 pounds, after temporarily making the move to lightweight in 2022 where he faced Jai Herbert, before swiftly moving back down to 145 pounds.

UFC 314: Full fight card

• 145 lbs.: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes for vacant Featherweight championship
• 155 lbs.: Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett
• 145 lbs.: Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire
• 170 lbs.: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
• 115 lbs.: Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba
• 205 lbs.: Dominick Reyes vs. Nikita Krylov
• 155 lbs.: Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper
• 145 lbs.: Roberto Romero vs. Alberto Montes
• 125 lbs.: Su Mudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo
• 145 lbs.: Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa
• 185 lbs.: Michał Oleksiejczuk vs. Sedriques Dumas

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