Brett OkamotoApr 14, 2025, 10:00 AM ET
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- Brett Okamoto has reported on combined martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has lined all the greatest occasions in fight sports activities throughout that point, together with in-depth interviews and lines with names reminiscent of Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He used to be additionally a manufacturer at the 30 for 30 movie: “Chuck and Tito,” which appeared again on the careers and competition of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
UFC 314 had one of the vital stacked playing cards of the 12 months to this point, and fortunate for us, it delivered in a large manner. Alexander Volkanovski emerged because the featherweight king after a five-round combat with Diego Lopes, and Paddy Pimblett as soon as once more proved his doubters incorrect via dismantling Michael Chandler. He now owns the second-longest lively win streak (seven fights) within the light-weight department.
The items of the featherweight puzzle additional fell into position down the cardboard. Yair Rodriguez ruined Patricio Pitbull’s UFC debut and Jean Silva and Dan Ige put early ends to their fights. Will Lopes tackle any of the ones 3 winners subsequent?
Here is what will have to be subsequent — and a couple of wild-card tips — for the highest warring parties from UFC 314.
Alexander Volkanovski, featherweight champion
Who will have to be subsequent: Movsar Evloev
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A struggle towards Evloev appeals to Volkanovski, as a result of he likes the speculation of taking Evloev’s undefeated file. How a lot does it attraction to everybody else? It is the type of factor that should not topic, however does. Dana White has now not been keen on his taste, and despite the fact that Evloev hasn’t ever taken a loss, there would not be a lot fan outrage if the UFC have been to cross him over for a name shot. That mentioned, Evloev obviously will have to be subsequent. Volkanovski has already defeated 4 of the highest 5 contenders (everybody however Evloev). No person comes with reference to Evloev when it comes to deserving it at this time.
Wildcard: Aaron Pico
A real wild card. I do not believe it is most probably the UFC would raise Pico to this chance in an instant, however on the similar time, I will be able to see a case for it. Pico, who signed with the UFC ultimate week, is emblem new to the department, and there may be all the time intrigue in that. He does have somewhat a spotlight reel from his time in Bellator MMA, to not point out somewhat a tale in the back of his occupation. He’s bad and almost certainly extra marketable than Evloev. I do not be expecting it, however it would not wonder me if the UFC went this fashion.
Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez, featherweight
What will have to be subsequent: Rodriguez vs. Lopes at UFC 320 on Sept. 13 in Guadalajara, Mexico
The UFC should not overthink this one. I guess that I may see a global through which Volkanovski defends his name in July and right away in a while tries to stand Rodriguez in Mexico — simply because that is the type of ridiculously tricky problem Volkanovski likes to tackle. He even floated the speculation on the UFC 314 postfight information convention. However it is in no way most probably.
I feel the UFC will give Volkanovski a brand new matchup — Volkanovski defeated Rodriguez in 2023 — and Rodriguez will tackle a distinct opponent at the Mexican Independence Day card in September. And that opponent will have to be Lopes. There may be animosity. Rodriguez, a Mexico local, does not like that Lopes, who used to be born in Brazil, says he represents Mexico, the place Lopes trains and coaches. Stylistically, it is one of the most best possible matchups in all of the 145-pound department. This can be a no-brainer.
Dan Ige and Jean Silva, featherweight
What will have to be subsequent: Ige vs. Silva
I most often do not mix warring parties in those columns, however UFC 314 used to be built to be a featherweight exhibit, so it is not too unexpected we are getting recent matchups from it. Silva appeared implausible in his win towards Bryce Mitchell. Most certainly the loudest win at the card, frankly. The game is all-in on learning Silva’s ceiling, however there is not any rush. He used to be now not ranked within the most sensible 15 going into this one, however he beat Mitchell, who used to be ranked No. 13. Ige is true there at No. 15, and his recognition has surged since coming off the sofa to struggle Lopes throughout a wild situation ultimate June at UFC 303 in Las Vegas. I would make this a five-round major match. Ige and Silva’s shares went up at UFC 314. The UFC will have to capitalize on that in an instant with a press release of a first-rate match.
Paddy Pimblett, light-weight
Who will have to be subsequent: Justin Gaethje
This can be a tricky one as a result of Gaethje is the most obvious resolution to me. He is to be had and the ratings make sense. How a lot more can the UFC ask Gaethje to do prior to rewarding him his name shot, despite the fact that? He knocked out Dustin Poirier to earn a shot two years in the past at UFC 291. He by no means were given it, despite the fact that, as a result of he put it at the line to do the corporate a prefer and struggle Max Holloway for the BMF name at UFC 300. He then authorised a lower-ranked opponent in Dan Hooker, and when Hooker were given injured, he took at the problem of getting to overcome Rafael Fiziev a moment time at UFC 313. After outlasting Fizev, is the UFC truly going to invite him to struggle some other younger, emerging contender? It feels extraordinarily unjust. However relying on what occurs with the name shot, I do not see Gaethje sitting round and ready too lengthy. If Gaethje’s subsequent struggle is not for the belt, it is almost certainly towards Pimblett.
Wildcard: Charles Oliveira
Very similar to Gaethje, Oliveira is deserving of a name shot at this time, however with Ilia Topuria transferring up and Gaethje’s UFC 313 win in March, Pimblett can not financial institution on Oliveira being subsequent. Pimblett’s callout of Oliveira in his postfight interview used to be very intriguing. When Oliveira used to be champion, challengers actually would now not apply him to the bottom if he used to be knocked down, out of recognize for his grappling. Pimblett is pronouncing he needs to check his grappling towards Oliveira. In some ways, that is in fact a extra interesting stylistic matchup to me than Gaethje, however I would bet it is the rather much less most probably of the 2. Both manner, each are hearth matchups.
Michael Chandler, light-weight
Who will have to be subsequent: Dan Hooker
Dan Hooker? It is extra of a query than a solution, as a result of in truth, I do not know. No person does. Chandler has roughly exhausted his large matchups, and this three-loss skid he’s recently on places him in a tricky spot through which it is both take a seat and wait or struggle any person down the ratings. That mentioned, I do not know who that subsequent up-and-comer can be that the UFC would truly wish to highlight in a struggle towards Chandler. So possibly the UFC offers Hooker a chance to win again that knockout loss to Chandler at UFC 257 in 2021. It is a less than perfect resolution to a query that has no excellent resolution. Hooker’s well being standing since pulling out of the Gaethje struggle ultimate month remains to be up within the air. It seems like Chandler is in a wait-and-see length.
Wait-and-see length, if he even fights once more, this is. I think as despite the fact that he’s going to. Sure, the file is unpleasant — Chandler is 2-5 within the UFC — however many of those fights had been aggressive, and they have got all been towards the most productive on the planet. The UFC loves having any person like Chandler on its roster. I will be shocked if he walks away, however my colleague Chael Sonnen predicted at the UFC 314 post-show that Chandler will, so we’re at that crossroads.
