Alexander Volkanovski battled through a grueling fight to reclaim the UFC featherweight title at UFC 314. His coach Joe Lopez revealed concerns about a potential hand injury from the bout. Lopez also highlighted Volkanovski’s hunger to rematch Ilia Topuria and weighed in on the division’s contenders in a recent interview.
Volkanovski’s battle scars and plans
Volkanovski outworked Diego Lopes to win a unanimous decision on April 12, 2025, securing the vacant featherweight belt after Topuria moved to lightweight. He landed 165 total strikes to Lopes’s 71, shrugging off a second-round knockdown.
Lopez flagged a possible injury.
“He might have broke his hand,” he told Submission Radio. “We’ve still got to get that X-ray. So he did hurt his hand.” The problem emerged early. “It was earlier in the fight, I think,” Lopez said. “Alex didn’t say anything towards, it was just at the end, he was just saying, ‘Look, I think I busted my hand.’ I can’t remember which round.”
Volkanovski felt the toll.
“He’s got a bit of a sore foot and just the bumps and bruises after having a five-round war with a warrior. You’re going to be sore,” Lopez added.
A cut under his right eye showed the fight’s intensity.
Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes embraced their inner Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje to end a classic! 👏 pic.twitter.com/YjRCGil9gc
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) April 14, 2025
Topuria looms large.
“It’s not up to us,” Lopez said. “It’s up to Ilia and the UFC. I’m sure the UFC would love to have that fight because that would have a lot of eyes on it, especially after Volk’s performance on the weekend. I know for a fact Volk really wants that back. It’s that pride thing. You think you really had it and you lost it. You want that one back and I know Volk really wants that one back. But again, that’s up to Ilia and the powers that be.”
Topuria knocked out Volkanovski in February 2024.
Lopez gave props to Movsar Evloev.
“Realistically, [Evloev] does deserve it, but there was no talk of him at all at the presser,” he said. “There was no real talk of him at all. Everyone was talking about Yair [Rodriguez] and everybody else except him. It’s sort of a bit sad. I guess he’s not very exciting, and he doesn’t bring much to the table, but he’s unbeaten and he’s on a run. If anyone deserves a shot it’s actually him, but it’s up to the powers that be.”
Jean Silva caught attention by submitting Bryce Mitchell.
“He’s definitely going to be a contender in the future,” Lopez said of Silva. “He’s probably two or three fights away before we see him up there, but he’s on a good run. He is a character. Very respectful guy, too. I think there’s something missing upstairs, but that’s him.”
Volkanovski’s win ended a two-fight skid. He now weighs recovery and his next foe, with Topuria, Evloev, or others possible. After the fight, Volkanovski stood at 27 wins and 4 losses, while Lopes dropped to 26 wins and 7 losses.
