Volkanovski Ready To Roll Back The Years – ‘People Will Write Books About It’

Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes held their final pre-fight presser before their UFC 314 fight. 

Volkanovski has the chance to reclaim his featherweight belt after Ilia Topuria moved up to lightweight, as it became vacant. Topuria knocked out Volk in his last fight at UFC 298 to end his four-year reign as champion. It was the first time that Volk had been stopped at the weight class. This raised question marks over whether he should retire. Fighters often make the mistake of staying in a sport for too long, as MMA has shown.

There was talk over a rematch, with Topuria saying that Volk had shown enough in his career to deserve it. However, the fight never happened as Lopes has now been given the opportunity. Lopes is undefeated in his last five fights. He defeated Brian Ortega in his last fight to secure himself the title shot. Volk knows a win silences critics who have suggested he should retire, while a victory propels Lopes’ career to stardom. 

Volkanoski Vs. Lopes

“I just wanna say, I’ve been feeling the love so much the past year, and even before that. I appreciate every single one of youse, and I’m bringing that f***in’ belt back to Australia. [And] I really do think this is the biggest fight of my career. Winning the belt now, with the timing, is the biggest part of my story. I’m looking forward to putting on a show and getting the belt back,” Volk said

“Everyone’s going to say, ‘You’re old’ and all that stuff. But I’m going to show you when I come back, and the comeback’s going to be big. I don’t get Ilia. I don’t get that win back just yet, but I get the next best thing. It is for the vacant belt and it’s against a young, hungry, new prospect.

“A lot of people are hyping him up and think I can’t do it. I love this position. I’ve never been in this situation before. [And] I’ve never come off such a big break. I’ve never come off two losses. It’s definitely the biggest fight of my career. … When you talk about legacy, it doesn’t get much bigger than this. People will write books (and) movies about it,” Volk added

“I think after back-to-back losses, I didn’t imagine it [a title shot]. I don’t think anybody believed in me at that point, but thankfully I listened to my manager,” Lopes

Full Card

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes

Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett

Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull

Bryce Michell vs. Jean Silva

Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes

Prelims

Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson

Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba

Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper

Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa

Early Prelims

Sedriques Dumas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Sumudaerji vs. Mitch Raposo

Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio

Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan

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