The UFC 314 pre-fight press conference took an unexpected turn when featherweights Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez got into a heated verbal exchange. Despite not being scheduled to fight each other, the tension between them was palpable.
The confrontation began when Lopes was asked about potentially facing Rodriguez at UFC 320 in Mexico later this year. Lopes responded by questioning Rodriguez's current form, pointing out that he's lost two fights in a row. Rodriguez took offense to this, labeling Lopes a coward and bringing up a past incident involving fighters from their respective gyms.
As the exchange escalated, security personnel had to intervene to prevent things from getting out of hand. The initial confrontation lasted around two minutes, but the two fighters continued to jaw at each other even after the Q&A session concluded.
UFC 314: Alexander Volkanovski will take on Diego Lopes for the vacant UFC Featherweight Title
The highly anticipated UFC 314 event is set to take place on April 12, 2025, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. The main event will feature a featherweight title bout between former champion Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes for the vacant title.
Volkanovski, looking to reclaim the throne he occupied for over four years, faces a tough challenge against Lopes, who has been on a winning streak with five victories in 13 months. Volkanovski's last title defense ended with a loss to Ilia Topuria, who has since vacated the title to pursue lightweight gold. The Australian legend's return to the Octagon is highly anticipated, and fans are eager to see if he still has what it takes to be a champion.
The co-main event features a lightweight bout between Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett. Chandler, a former Bellator Lightweight World Champion, looks to bounce back from a long hiatus, while Pimblett, a rising star, aims to continue his undefeated streak in the UFC. This fight promises to be an exciting encounter between two talented fighters.
