“He’s Very Risky”- Alexander Volkanovski Slips 1 Tip to Diego Lopes in a Confrontation With Daniel Cormier

As UFC 314 approaches, Alexander Volkanovski is not pretending that experience is irrelevant. He knows it works; he’s been here numerous times before, under the brightest lights, with gold on the line. In a recent interview with Daniel Cormier, Volkanovski admitted that his composure and awareness of high-stakes situations gave him an advantage. But what piqued everyone’s interest was the advice he gave his opponent, Diego Lopes.

“He needs to be reckless,” ‘Volk’ said as if he were challenging Diego Lopes to be the chaos in their impending storm. Volkanovski’s statement was more than just sportsmanship; it was based on his perception of Lopes as a fighter. The former featherweight champion regards the Brazilian as someone who already fights like a man possessed, even without the pressure of a title bout. In his words, Lopes already fights like someone who has lost their composure—throwing caution out the window for the potential to land something catastrophic.

He said, “He fights like you would think if someone lost their composure in a title fight—that’s what it’s going to look like. But that’s how he fights, you know what I mean? And that’s why it’s exciting, because he will risk it all, you know, to land that shot. He’s a very risky type of fighter, especially on the feet.” And this is precisely why Volkanovski is bracing for a rough ride. He knows Diego Lopes will take risks, especially on his feet, and his goal is to stay alert and use all of his experience to weather the storm and find his own moments.

It’s an odd type of compliment. Alexander Volkanovski isn’t ridiculing the Brazilian; he recognizes the risk he poses. But it’s also obvious that ‘The Great’ wants the fight to play out on his terms. The Aussie believes that poise, timing, and following a well-thought-out strategy will prevail over wild aggression. His mindset reflects a man who has faced the greatest, suffered some of the sport’s most punishing hits—both physically and mentally—and still knows who he is in the cage. So, he is all geared up to grab the gold at UFC 314. But what happens next? Does he have any opponent in mind once he becomes the featherweight champion?

Diego Lopes and Alexander Volkanovski choose the same name to be their first title defense

It’s unusual for two fighters on opposing sides of a title fight to be thinking beyond each other, but that’s exactly what’s occurring at UFC 314. Despite their obvious differences in experience, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes appear to be in agreement about what follows next. Both men have set their sights on Movsar Evloev. For Lopes, it is unfinished business. On the other hand, Volkanovski considers it a worthy challenge. And for Evloev, it’s the perfect situation—a title shot on the table regardless of who wins.

Diego Lopes has not hidden his thirst for vengeance. He made his UFC debut on short notice against Evloev and came close to pulling off the upset but just fell short. Since then, he’s been on a tear, steamrolling his way to the title shot. But, even as the belt swings in front of him, he can’t let go of that one loss. It definitely still hurts. The Brazilian views a potential rematch as more than just defending the belt; it’s an opportunity to rewrite the most frustrating chapter of his career. In his mind, there is no resolution until he evens the score.

On the contrary, Volkanovski holds no personal grudges. He’s simply wired to take on the greatest. Despite everything he’s gone through—the highs, the lows, the criticism—he still carries himself like a guy with a point to prove. And if he succeeds in Miami, he already knows who deserves the next opportunity. “Tell me the date,” he stated, referring to Evloev. “I’ll call the shots that night.” There’s something quietly appealing about that mindset, less about competitiveness and more about legacy. What do you think? Who will walk away with the belt at UFC 314? Let us know in the comments.