‘The Great’ is back: Volkanovski regains UFC title in Miami

Alexander Volkanovski has silenced the doubters, defied history, and reclaimed his place atop the UFC featherweight division with a stirring unanimous decision win over Brazilian Diego Lopes at UFC 314 in Miami.

The Aussie MMA icon, 36, bounced back from consecutive knockout losses and a 14-month layoff to produce one of the most courageous performances of his career, taking a unanimous decision 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 to become a two-time UFC featherweight champion — the first man in the division’s history to do so.

“I’ve never felt the love so much,” Volkanovski said inside the Octagon post-fight.

“A lot of people counted me out — coming off two knockout losses, a big break, and then beating a gun like Diego Lopes. Adversity is a privilege. Look what can happen.”

The Wollongong native, fighting for the tenth time in a UFC title bout, was rocked late in the second round by a brutal uppercut that left him temporarily blind in one eye.

But in typical Volkanovski fashion, he dug deep, rallied through the pain, and outstruck Lopes 158 to 63 in significant shots across the five-round war as the $1.86 favourite with the top online bookmakers.

Former middleweight champ Israel Adesanya later revealed Volkanovski had lost vision in the third round.

“He still did it with one eye. What a champ,” Adesanya told Main Event.

Despite Lopes landing some heavy blows and pressing forward with constant pressure, Volkanovski’s fight IQ, composure and world-class jab were the difference as he dictated the pace in the championship rounds.

Judges praised his control and output, with the Aussie dominating late to seal the win.

The fight earned Fight of the Night honours, while the card drew a sell-out 18,287 crowd at the Kaseya Center and a whopping $11.5 million gate — the third-highest ever at the venue.

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Adding to the headlines was Canadian rapper Drake, who placed a $545,000 bet on Volkanovski to win — breaking the so-called “Drake curse” and collecting a cool $915,600 as a result.

With Ilia Topuria now competing at lightweight, Volkanovski’s next featherweight title defence could come against rising Russian Mosvar Evloev or Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez, who impressed with a dominant points win over Patricio Pitbull earlier in the night.

In the co-main event, Liverpool’s Paddy Pimblett scored the biggest win of his career, stopping Michael Chandler via third-round TKO to establish himself as a genuine lightweight contender.

But the night belonged to Australia’s “Great”.

Against the odds, against Father Time, and with one eye half-shut, Alexander Volkanovski reminded the world — and his critics — why he’s one of the best to ever do it.

“I promised my girls I’d bring that belt home,” he said. “And I did.”

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