UFC 314 odds, predictions: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes pick
It’s still early, but UFC 314 just might wind up being the best top-to-bottom card of the year.A whopping 13 fights are on this weekend, beginning at 6 p.m.ET with the prelims, which will be on prime-time ESPN programming.Meanwhile, the main card jumps onto pay-per-view at 10 p.m.
and is headlined by former champion Alexander Volkanovski, who is looking to reclaim his championship belt, opposite Diego Lopes.Live from Miami, this weekend’s card should be fantastic, with title implications littered throughout the preliminaries and main card.The featherweight belt is vacant after Ilia Topuria knocked out the longtime champ in Volkanovski.Lopes has a ton of power.He nearly knocked out Brian Ortega and is on a five-fight win streak.
Three of those five wins are by finishing, as he’s a very well-rounded fighter in both grappling and submissions.However, his cardio is legitimately suspect, and Volkanovski does an excellent job chopping down his opponent’s lead leg.That should spell out a dangerous combo for Lopes if he’s unable to knockout or submit Volkanovski early on.Volkanovski has been knocked out in each of his last two fights.Still, Lopes’ strength of schedule is so much lower than any title contender at featherweight we have seen in years past.I suspect that Volkanovski wins by decision in this one as Lopes wilts down the stretch.PICK: Volkanovski by decision (+240, Bet365 Sportsbook) “Iron” Michael Chander has made a habit of losing inside the octagon, with just two wins in six fights.Can he spring the upset against rising contender Paddy Pimblett?Pimblett, 22-3, is undefeated in the UFC, but has looked extremely uneven in that time, having nearly lost to Jared Gordon and he even dropped a round to Tony Ferguson, who has lost eight straight.Pimblett’s cardio is suspect, and Chandler should have the punching power edge.The Englishman should have the grappling edge, although Chandler has been submitted just once and even Charles Oliveira couldn�...