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Brett Okamoto
When the UFC introduced in February that featherweight champion Ilia Topuria had determined to vacate his title to maneuver up a weight class to light-weight, there have been a number of unanswered questions surrounding each divisions. Quick ahead practically two months, and plenty of of these questions stay.
It would take a while for each divisions to reset following Topuria’s bombshell determination. At light-weight, the million-dollar query is whether or not Topuria will get a right away title shot or should earn one by going through one other light-weight contender. Topuria claimed at a information convention final month that the UFC promised him his subsequent bout could be for a title, however the UFC has not but introduced Topuria’s subsequent battle nor the following title matchup for its light-weight champion, Islam Makhachev.
Former light-weight champion Charles Oliveira is within the working for a shot towards Makhachev. As is former interim champion Justin Gaethje. Arman Tsarukyan, who withdrew the day earlier than his January battle at UFC 311 with Makhachev due to again spasms, remains to be in play. On prime of that, Makhachev reportedly has aspirations of shifting as much as welterweight, both within the speedy future or someplace down the street.
As UFC CEO Dana White stated of the state of affairs at a latest information convention, “Quite a lot of s— happening proper now …”
Fortunately, we are about to get solutions at featherweight. Former champion Alexander Volkanovski faces Diego Lopes for the 145-pound championship at UFC 314 on Saturday night time in Miami (ESPN+ PPV, 10 ET, with prelims on ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ at 8 ET), and that is simply certainly one of a number of featherweight bouts on the cardboard. Topuria’s departure threw each divisions right into a little bit of chaos, however at the least at featherweight, we all know the questions and after they’ll be answered.
How a lot does Volkanovski have left?
Volkanovski went from one of many surest bets in MMA to a mountain of query marks inside two years. He’s solely 36 years previous and practically beat Makhachev in a light-weight title battle in 2023, however he has additionally been knocked out in back-to-back appearances and has revealed he is been working on his mental health.
Forward of this matchup towards Lopes, 30, Volkanovski’s again is towards the wall. His followers is perhaps fearful about one other loss and about his well being. That is probably the most doubt Volkanovski has confronted in his 14-year UFC profession. He informed ESPN he stopped ingesting alcohol effectively earlier than the beginning of this camp and has been forward of schedule along with his weight minimize. His confidence definitely seems to be intact.
“I need to show I can beat this new college [of fighters],” Volkanovski stated. “I nonetheless acquired these guys, belief me. Lopes is younger, hungry, on a tear for the time being. [I want] to exit and try this and [have fans] be like, ‘Oh wow, Volk’s nonetheless acquired it.'”
Checking out this 145-pound division begins with Volkanovski. He was the king till he bumped into Topuria. Now that Topuria is shifting on, who’s to say that the throne should not nonetheless belong to Volkanovski? To get there, he has to beat a troublesome historic pattern: Fighters 35 and older are 0-17 in UFC title fights at 155 kilos and lighter.
How a lot does Patricio Pitbull have left?
One of the best fighter on this planet at any weight class is usually the UFC champion. The UFC has the highest expertise and the deepest weight courses. Often, nonetheless, there’s a debate — and for years, a possible one has concerned Pitbull.
Pitbull was a long-reigning featherweight champion in Bellator MMA, and he additionally received its light-weight title in 2019 by knocking out Michael Chandler, who will tackle Paddy Pimblett within the co-main occasion of UFC 314. Any longtime MMA fan would have cherished to see Volkanovski battle Pitbull throughout their respective reigns within the UFC and Bellator. That is why it was no shock that Pitbull’s first social media publish upon securing his launch from Bellator earlier this 12 months was, “Hi, @alexvolkanovski.“
Pitbull faces Yair Rodriguez on Saturday. If he wins impressively, there’s an excellent likelihood he catapults himself to the highest of the rankings and a title shot.
He’s 37, although, and was knocked out for the primary time in 2023 by Chihiro Suzuki at Tremendous Rizin 2. Like Volkanovski, Pitbull is at a novel level in his profession the place he has one thing to show. But when he can show it, he can leap the road. And that line is not even tremendous lengthy. It principally comes down to 1 different contender …
Will the UFC get behind Movsar Evloev?
That contender is Evloev, who’s 19-0 total and 9-0 within the UFC, together with a unanimous determination over Lopes two years in the past. In truth, every of the wrestling-heavy Evloev’s wins within the UFC has come by determination.
This is a great way to sum up Evloev’s standing within the UFC: White referred to his win over Arnold Allen in January 2024 as “the least enjoyable battle anyone’s ever seen.” Movsar has since said he will not beg White for a title shot and can run his file to 100-0 if that is what it takes to win a championship. You get the image.
Volkanovski and Lopes have each stated they need to battle Evloev, and the UFC cannot deny him ceaselessly. His path already has been lengthy, however for it to culminate in a title alternative, nothing in need of perfection is required.
What sort of rise would possibly Aaron Pico be in for?
Pico is headed to the UFC. It hasn’t been formally introduced, however the information has been coming and the largest hurdles have been cleared.
Pico, 28, signed with Bellator again in 2014, three years earlier than he even made his MMA debut. The younger freestyle wrestling phenom was one of the crucial promising prospects in MMA historical past however misplaced three of his first seven Bellator fights. Because the tough begin, he has received 9 of 10 and was in line to battle for the Bellator title earlier than the promotion ceased operations this 12 months.
Eight years and 17 fights into his skilled profession, Pico’s true ceiling stays a thriller. He has all the expertise on this planet, however a transfer to the UFC shall be a step up in competitors. If he does show to be championship-caliber, his inventory might undergo the roof. You need to speak about a shakeup on this division? Pico’s transfer to the UFC may very well be the largest wild card of the 12 months.
Who else might change the panorama of this division in 2025?
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Jean Silva drops Charles Jourdain with vicious uppercut
Jean Silva knocks out Charles Jourdain with an unimaginable uppercut at UFC 303.
Jean Silva has been thrown a possibility to face Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314 in a particularly fast turnaround from his first-round knockout of Melsik Baghdasaryan in February. Youssef Zalal, who’s on his second run within the UFC after getting minimize in 2021, is discovering his stride, too. He simply beat the always-game Calvin Kattar in February to get to 4-0 since he reentered the UFC a 12 months in the past.
Lastly, Lerone Murphy is undefeated and shall be ranked among the many prime 10 following Saturday’s most important occasion win towards Josh Emmett. There’s not a number of flash to Murphy, who’s quietly on an eight-fight win streak, however there seems to be greater than sufficient substance to create some points for the highest of the division.
