Ilia Topuria has vacated the featherweight title, leaving Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes fighting for undisputed gold.
The pre-fight narrative: The two featherweights are as exciting to watch as they are skilled. Volkanovski is currently a slight favourite to win back his belt over a tough challenger. On the undercard, Paddy Pimblett is favoured to remain undefeated in the UFC.
Check out my UFC 314 odds and the fight card for the April 8 event in Miami.
UFC 314 odds
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| Fighter | Odds | Weight class | Odds | Fighter |
| Alexander Volkanovski (1) | -138 | Featherweight | +105 | Diego Lopes (3) |
| Michael Chandler (7) | +125 | Lightweight | -163 | Paddy Pimblett (12) |
| Yair Rodriguez (5) | -209 | Featherweight | +155 | Patricio Pitbull |
| Bryce Mitchell (13) | +220 | Featherweight | -300 | Jean Silva |
| Nikita Krylov (8) | -209 | Light heavyweight | +155 | Dominick Reyes (11) |
UFC 314 odds as of 4:29 p.m. on 04/07/25.
See all UFC 314 fights and betting lines
Volkanovski vs. Lopes main event
Topuria makes the move to lightweight, freeing up a division that was presumably going to be run by the Georgian for years to come.
Volkanovski is the former “boogey man” of this division and has the chance to reclaim his title against a promising young foe.
Lopes enters this bout with a 5-1 UFC record. He most recently beat perennial contender Brian Ortega in a dominant decision.
Before Topuria, no one in the weight class came close to matching Volkanovski’s skill. Is he still elite, or is he past his prime at 36 years old?
The Australian lost his last two fights by knockout, leaving questions about his durability. His chin will be tested in a five-round fight with the intense hard hard-hitting Lopes.
UFC 314 Chandler vs. Pimblett odds
- Chandler is always exciting to watch but lacks results in the UFC. He has a 2-3 record and is known to make questionable decisions during fights to appease the fans. It’s a great way to become a crowd favourite, but is holding back “Iron Mike” from his ultimate goal of becoming champion.
- “Paddy the Baddy” is on a meteoric rise in the UFC. He has quickly put together a 5-0 record with three finishes. That includes his most recent (and most impressive) win over King Green at 304 by triangle choke in the first round.
- The X factor in all of Pimblett’s fights is his grappling and overall power. But on Saturday, he faces the one lightweight fighter who may have him topped in both categories. Either way this goes, I can guarantee a banger.
Rodriguez vs. Pitbull odds
- Rodriguez remains the dark horse in this featherweight division. He is immensely skilled in all areas but falls short in the big fights. This was on display in his last fight against Ortega, where he knocked his opponent down in the first round and failed to secure the finish. He ended up losing by submission in the third round.
- If you are only a fan of the UFC, the name Patricio “Pitbull” may mean nothing to you, but this is one of the best featherweights of the past decade. He was a force in another big promotion, Bellator, where he even had a first-round knockout over Chandler.
- Is it too late for Pitbull? He is now 38 years old and 1-2 in his last three bouts. He will be tested against Rodriguez, who has been in the UFC for 10+ years and is still in his prime at 32 years old.
Mitchell vs. Silva odds
- Mitchell is known more for his antics outside the octagon recently, however, don’t forget he was one of the biggest prospects in the sport just a few years ago. His wrestling and jiu-jitsu are elite, but he doesn’t have the best striking. He’s 2-2 in his last four but lost to top-level competition (Topuira, Josh Emmett).
- Siva might just be “top-level”, though. He’s been in the UFC for just over a year and has already accumulated a 4-0 record, with all four wins coming inside the distance. He is an incredible striker with the ground game to match. He deserves his distinction as a large favourite.
Krylov vs. Reyes odds
- Reyes is having a bit of a career resurgence. He took a 12-0 record into his title fight with Jon Jones in 2020 and should’ve won on the scorecards, according to most fans. He went on to lose his next three fights by KO but bounced back to win his last two fights before the final bell.
- Krylov is on a three-fight winning streak of his own. He can get it done in every area, winning one of those fights by TKO, one by submission and the other by decision. This will be a technical battle between two of the most skilled in the division.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.