Morning Report: Robert Whittaker breaks down how Alexander Volkanovski becomes champion again at UFC 314

Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker | Photo by Paul Kane/Zuffa LLC Robert Whittaker believes Alexander Volkanovski’s championship days are far from over.Volkanovski has the chance to regain the featherweight title when he fights Diego Lopes for a vacant belt this Saturday at UFC 314. The title is up for grabs with champion Ilia Topuria moving up to lightweight and Volkanovski falls right back into a big opportunity despite losing his past two fights by knockout (including a short-notice rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev).

At 36, Volkanovski is no longer in his prime, but Whittaker is confident his fellow Aussie has more than enough left in the tank to reclaim his spot atop the featherweight division.“Volk’s skill set’s top-tier,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast. “I can see him chopping that calf, doing his step-through left hand.



I can see him pushing Diego backwards, dropping for doubles against the fence. He stopped using it as much once he was champ, except for against people like Yair [Rodriguez]..

. but he wrestled a lot in the beginning of his career and utilized it to great effect. So I reckon we see well-rounded Volk top-tier skill set, and we have another champ in Australia.

”Prior to losing to Topuria, Volkanovski had never been defeated in a 145-pound contest. However, his durability has come into question after Makhachev floored him with a head kick and then Topuria knocked him out cold just four months later.The Topuria result was particularly shocking given Volkanovski’s legendary durability and his incredible run as featherweight champion.

Volkanovski defeated Max Holloway to win the title at UFC 245 and then successfully defended it five consecutive times, including two rematches with Holloway.Whittaker has seen Volkanovski at his best too many times to count him out now.“I think the million-dollar question is what Volk are we going to see in the octagon come that night, come UFC 314?” Whittaker said.

“Everyone was already talking about his losses to Makhachev, his knockout, and then back on to the knockout with Topuria, back on to his age, and as MMA fans like to do, as soon as he lost they started throwing his age around and calling him a wash, which is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. MMA fans are the best and worst of us as people, they really are.“The truth is he’s been out for a while now.

He’s coming off two losses in a row, Makhachev and Topuria, bad losses the last couple. His age is a factor in this. Which Volk are we going to see in the octagon come 314?”“Diego’s in a very, very dangerous form right now,” Whittaker added.

“‘Makhachev 1 Volk,’ I think beats Diego Lopes. Volk’s skill set and just his composure, his toughness, his grit, his fight IQ, his ability to fight in the octagon is second to none. But again, with all the other factors we look in to it, which Volk do we see?”Lopes has won five straight since a thrilling short-notice debut loss to Movsar Evloev in 2023.

He is coming off of a dominant win over two-time UFC title challenger Brian Ortega, but is currently a slight underdog to Volkanovski.That makes sense to Whittaker, who predicts the bout will go the distance with Volkanovski being declared “And Again” by Bruce Buffer in the end.“I see Volk going in there, using full skill sets, landing shots, going for takedowns, wearing Diego Lopes down, riding him for five rounds, and winning a decision,” Whittaker said.

“Or by getting him out of there in the later end of the rounds.”TOP STORIESResults. Lerone Murphy outpoints Josh Emmett, fires back at rowdy crowd after winning UFC Vegas 105 main event.

Basically clean. Michael Chandler addresses cheating accusations ahead of UFC 314 fight with Paddy Pimblett.Confrontation.

Henry Cejudo describes crazy confrontation with man who crashed car in house, assaulted neighbor.Dreams. Lerone Murphy wants to travel the same path as Diego Lopes to get a title shot, names next opponent.

Showboat. Javier Mendez says Merab Dvalishvili ‘showboated his way to winning’ against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.VIDEO STEWUFC Vegas 105 post-fight show.

MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck chops it up with Michael Chandler ahead of a pivotal fight with Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314.UFC 314 Countdown.Michael Bisping looks ahead to UFC 314’s biggest storylines.

FLAVOR IN YOUR EAROn To the Next One. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee make lemons out of lemonade after a dreary UFC Vegas 105 event.

What’s next for the still-undefeated Lerone Murphy and what’s the funniest possible matchup for Torrez Finney?SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSEWinners write the history.Clinic! Real MMA fans will appreciate the technicality of that fight. That’s fight IQ.

Punishing elbows in close, body kicks, neat footwork. Had him hurt a few times. Why would I stay in the pocket with a power puncher.

Float like a butterfly sting like a baby— LERONE MURPHY (@LeroneMurphy) April 6, 2025But respect.It was an honour to share the cage with this warrior. Future hall of famer.

Respect @JoshEmmettUFC pic.twitter.com/yAvBKnIYn2— LERONE MURPHY (@LeroneMurphy) April 6, 2025Good scrap, wish you all the best! https://t.

co/m6yOaEhD8n— JOSH EMMETT (@JoshEmmettUFC) April 6, 2025Ortega responds to Murphy’s callout? — Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) April 6, 2025Chang Ho Lee, the champ sees you. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MMA Fighting (@mmafighting)Make of this what you will.There hasn't been a Fight of the Night bonus given out in 4 events.

First time that's happened since 2015. (Record is 5 events). pic.

twitter.com/lAvmIeI5QG— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) April 6, 2025Fact.Victor Henry is very underrated— Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) April 5, 2025Who next?I’ve got a fight my G’s ☀️ pic.

twitter.com/5dXtRXwIfT— Oban Elliott Official (@obanelliottufc) April 6, 2025This is real training. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jiří “BJP” Procházka (@jirkaprochazka)FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTSAriane da Silva (17-10) vs.

Wang Cong (7-1); UFC 316, June 7FINAL THOUGHTSWe made it through UFC Vegas 105 in one piece! We might be slightly lesser than we were before, but we made it, and now we have a good-looking pay-per-view ahead of us. Buckle up for UFC 314, fight fans, you deserves this.EXIT POLLIf you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it.

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