UFC 314 delivered one of the most exciting, complete events in recent memory. The 13-fight card went down in Miami, Florida on Saturday and featured nine finishes. Every fight was both exciting and competitive. The main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes for the vacant UFC featherweight belt drew Fight of the Night honors. It was the card of the height discrepancies as nearly every fight on the main card had a major height difference.
A number of fighters now need to bounce back, including some big names.
Diego Lopes
Diego Lopes put up a valiant effort in the main event of UFC 314 but was ultimately out fought by former champion, Alexander Volkanovski on the way to a unanimous decision defeat. However, the fight did break the four-card drought of there not being a Fight of the Night. Diego had a great showing; but was simply outclassed by Volk. The loss is just Diego’s second with the UFC. It snaps his five-fight win streak dating back to his second fight with the promotion in August of 2023.
All things considered, Diego’s ascent thru the ranks of the UFC’s featherweight division has been both remarkable and fast. Lopes entered this bout ranked at #3 in the division while Alexander was the #1 contender. Diego lost little momentum from his loss at UFC 314.
Ideal next fight for Diego would be against Yair Rodriguez. Yair won his bout against UFC newcomer and former Bellator featherweight champion, Patricio Pitbull, earlier on the card. That fight is an absolute no brainer. Both Yair and Lopes are high paced, high output fighters. Yair’s kicks and diverse striking against Diego’s wild power would be an exciting matchup for the fans. And as an added bonus for UFC fans and execs, the timing could matchup for this fight to go down during Hispanic heritage month between mid-September and mid-October. This fight could easily headline a card with the winner getting the next title shot in the 145lbs division (though Noche UFC seems like the obvious option).
Lopes’s next fight: Yair Rodriguez
Michael Chandler
Michael Chandler put on a largely disappointing performance on his way to being bloodied, brutalized and finished by Paddy Pimblett in the third round their co main event on Saturday. Chandler came into the octagon with a #7 ranking while his opponent was ranked at #12. But when the fight actually started, it looked the other way around. Michael had some brief moments but the soon to be 39-year-old, was largely outfought in every aspect on his way to his third straight loss. Michael could just not find a way to get inside. Chandler has now lost five of his last six fights. Bringing his record to an abysmal 2-5, since joining the UFC back in early 2021.
So many different ways this could go for Chandler. Its whatever he wants to do. When the rankings are updated, he shouldn’t be in the top 15- (but he likely will be just based off name value). Beating a dead horse at this point but- the Conor McGregor fight still makes sense. Chandler is the perfect size and style of fighter that Conor made a name off of KO’ing. Michael looked really bad in his last performance, and it could give Conor just enough confidence to swoop in and take that fight.
If that fight doesn’t materialize there is little else that makes sense at this point. Unless someone in the lightweight division wants to fight down for a money fight (I’m looking at you, Renato Moicano). But a fight that makes a lot more sense for Chandler, at this stage, would be against the loser of Joel Alvarez vs Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 315 next month. The timing would work well for that fight, as Chandler is going to need some time off to recover. Benoit is currently ranked at #13 at lightweight, while Joel is unranked. Alvarez is riding a three-fight win streak while Benoit has lost his last two. Fight would be another striker’s delight but could go to the ground as its now a known point of least resistance against Chandler. It’s high time for Chandler to have to fight down.
Chandler’s next fight: Conor McGregor or Loser of Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Joel Alvarez
Patricio Pitbull
Patricio Pitbull couldn’t really get going on his way to a unanimous decision defeat against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 314. Saturday was the 37-year-old former Bellator featherweight champion’s UFC debut which unfortunately did not go to plan.
There are a lot of directions Pitbull could go in at this point. Patricio has a limited amount of time to get the caliber of fights he wants before he retires. A fight against Bryce Mitchell could make a lot of sense. Mitchell competed just before Patricio on UFC 314’s main card on Saturday. As The Ultimate Fighter Season 27 winner and with his vocal ‘brash’ personality, Bryce is as fighter with a lot of clout. Bryce is a huge threat on the ground and was ranked at #13 on Saturday. This would be a good litmus test for Pitbull to see if he even deserves to be in the rankings or if he should strictly be looking for those eye-popping matchups at this stage of his fight career.
Pitbull’s next fight: Bryce Mitchell
Bryce Mitchell
Bryce Mitchell started out strong but was quickly out-struck on his way to an embarrassing second round submission loss to Jean Silva. Michell had a lot of pressure on him heading into the fight as Silva specifically called him out. Mitchel also entered the fight ranked at #13 while Jean was unranked, adding to the pressure.
Mitchell has now lost three of his last five fights, finished in all three. To be fair, all his losses in this time period have been against good competition (Ilia Topuria, Josh Emmett and Jean Silva). But Bryce’s best win was a unanimous decision against Dan Ige in 2023. Bryce will likely lose his ranking when they are updated and will need to prove himself in his next bout. That’s why a fight against a former Bellator champ like Pitbull would make a lot of sense for Bryce. Especially considering how Pitbull performed against Yair at UFC 314. If Bryce can go in there and finish him or take it to him and earn a lopsided victory, he could very easily see himself propelled back into the rankings.
Mitchell’s next fight: Patricio Pitbull
Nikita Krylov
Nikita Krylov was countered and finished by Dominick Reyes in the first round of their fight to open the UFC 314 main card. The loss snapped Kryolv’s 3-fight winning streak dating to 2022, which included two finishes.
Krylov entered the fight ranked at #8 in the UFC’s light heavyweight division while Reyes was ranked at #11. Krylov was supposed to fight Azamat Murzakanov back in November. However, the fight fell apart after Azamat withdrew.
Azamat is a 2021 Contender Series alum. The 14-0, 36-year-old is 4-0 under the UFC banner and has stopped all but one of his opponents. Azamat was last in action in August when he smoked Alonzo Menifield in just two rounds. Unfortunately, Murzakanov who is the #12 ranked fighter 205lbs., is already matched up against the #10 ranked, Johnny Walker. Those two are scheduled to fight at UFC 316 in June. Walker is currently riding a two-fight losing skid, but the fan favorite, freak athlete, is always dangerous. The loser of this fight would make a lot of sense for Nikita to get back on the right track. And guaranteed violence for the fans with a high likelihood of a finish no matter who Krylov fights. Winner of that fight would be right in #8-13 rankings.
Krylov’s next fight: Loser of Johnny Walker vs Azamat Murzakanov
