Alexander Volkanovski reacts to his win over Chan Sung Jung, aka The Korean Zombie, in the fourth round Saturday, April 9, 2022 during UFC 273 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Jki 041022 Ufc273 20

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Alexander Volkanovski Hyped To Take On ” Young Hungry” Diego Lopes At UFC 314

Alexander Volkanovski embraces the challenge of the younger Diego Lopes ahead of his title fight at UFC 314!

Fighting at the highest level of MMA requires adaptability both inside and outside the cage. Alexander Volkanovski knows this better than most. The Australian fighter has faced an extraordinary rollercoaster over the past two years. From his dominant featherweight reign to his brave lightweight challenges against Islam Makhachev, Volkanovski has never shied away from difficult fights.

His brutal knockout loss to Ilia Topuria last February shocked the MMA world. Many wondered if they had seen the last of ‘The Great’ as a championship-level fighter. But those who counted Volkanovski out clearly don’t understand his resilience.

The road back to title contention hasn’t been straightforward for the former champion. At 36, many fighters would consider winding down their careers after such setbacks. Not Volkanovski. His determination to reclaim what he once held has led him to this moment. After healing from his losses and rebuilding his confidence, he is now set to face one of the division’s hottest prospects. The matchup against Diego Lopes represents a classic clash between experienced championship pedigree and hungry young talent.

Also Read: Michael Chandler Gives His Take On Cheating Allegations Ahead Of UFC 314 Fight

Alexander Volkanovski Reveals Reaction To Ilia Topuria Vacating Title

When Volkanovski was made aware that he wasn’t fighting Ilia Topuria for the title, he was caught off guard. The Australian fighter had made his mind to take on Ilia Topuria in a rematch and win his title back. But fate had other plans.

“If they just told me 2 months ago ‘Yeah, you are not fighting Ilia, you are fighting Diego’ I was like ‘Woah what’s going on?’ I just found out two weeks before they announced it that it was going to be Lopes. By then, i was like, just give me a fight, just make sure it was for the title. So that made this process easier,” said Volkanovski in an interview with TNT Sports.

“This is the next best thing, a young hungry guy who’s on a tear…it adds to my story!”

Alex Volkanovski on Ilia Topuria vacating and facing Diego Lopes for the featherweight strap 👀#UFC314 | Saturday | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/l1Rg4ZZ8kP
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) April 7, 2025

This inside information allowed him to mentally pivot his preparation. While he admits fighting Topuria would have been his first choice for redemption, he understands the things that the sport comes with.

Alexander Volkanovski Embraces The Diego Lopes Challenge

In the same interview with TNT Sports ahead of UFC 314, Volkanovski couldn’t hide his excitement about facing Diego Lopes. He revealed that he was ready to face the next generation of hungry killers.

“This is the next best thing. Fighting a young hungry guy who is on a tear, a lot of hype around him, still that new school. You know i’m trying to prove to the world that i have still got it over them”

Volkanovski sees this fight as another chapter in his already impressive career story. The Brazilian Lopes has burst onto the UFC scene with a series of spectacular finishes. His knockout power and submission skills have quickly made him one of the division’s most feared fighters.

A win over Lopes would accomplish something remarkable for Alexander Volkanovski. Few fighters have reclaimed championship gold after such devastating losses. It would cement his place among the all-time greats of the featherweight division. At UFC 314 in Miami, Volkanovski has the chance to show that experience and heart can still triumph over youth and momentum. The fighting world will be watching closely to see if ‘The Great’ can write another triumphant chapter in his already impressive story!

(Image Credit: Corey Perrine/Florid – Imagn Images)

Alexander Volkanovksi

Diego Lopes

Ilia Topuria

UFC 314

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!