There might be a brand new featherweight champion topped on the UFC’s return to Miami.
UFC CEO Dana White introduced Wednesday night time that Ilia Topuria has vacated his title, and former champ Alexander Volkanovski will face surging contender Diego Lopes for the belt in the primary occasion of UFC 314 on April 12 at Kaseya Middle.
White additionally introduced that Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett serves because the five-round co-main occasion, whereas longtime Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull has signed with the promotion and faces former interim champ Yair Rodriguez on the cardboard.
Topuria’s subsequent battle might be introduced quickly, per White, but it surely seems he’s making the transfer as much as light-weight.
Volkanovski returns to the octagon for the primary time in 14 months since shedding the championship to Topuria at UFC 298 in February 2024. “The Nice” dropped the belt after choosing up 5 profitable title defenses, which features a pair of wins over Max Holloway.
Lopes enters his first title battle with 5 straight victories, together with a lopsided win over Brian Ortega in his most up-to-date bout at UFC 306 this previous September.
Chandler has dropped two straight, and 4 of 5 as he hopes to get again on observe, whereas Pimblett is 6-0 within the UFC, together with a fast submission win over King Inexperienced at UFC 304 this previous July.
Different new fights introduced by the promotion embody a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates, together with a featherweight tilt between Dan Ige and Sean Woodson.
