The headline fight in the UFC 314 picks is a battle for the featherweight world title. Former champion Alexander Volkanovski will be seeking to regain the belt against challenger Diego Lopes as they enter the cage at Miami’s Kaseya Center on Saturday, April 12. The title became vacent when champion Ilia Topuria was making the decision to move up to the lightweight division.
In the co-main event, former title challenger Michael Chandler is tangling with Paddy Pimblett in a clash of two top lightweight contenders. It will be a five-round bout.
Let’s look at the latest betting lines for these bouts. Remember, odds are always subject to change.
| UFC 314 Odds | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes | Volkanovski | -145 | -145 | -145 |
| Michael Chandler vs Paddy Pimblett | Pimblett | -155 | -160 | -160 |
In this article, SBS will be going over each fighter, offering a predicted winner in both matchups, and also providing some additional notes and information regarding UFC 314 picks and UFC betting.
Fighter Spotlight: Alexander Volkanovski
Volkanovski (26-4) reigned as UFC featherweight world champion from 2019-2024, successfully defending his title six times. He lost the title to Topuria at UFC 298 in February 2024.
The Australian has actually been defeated in three of his last four bouts. However, two of those setbacks came when he challenged champion Islam Makhlachev for the UFC world lightweight title.
Fighter Spotlight: Diego Lopes
Lopes (32-6) has won five in a row since losing his UFC debut bout. However, it’s not like the Mexican fighter has been running a gauntlet of who’s who in the UFC lightweight division.
The No. 3 contender in the weight class, the only fighter among the top 10 that Lopes has beaten is Brian Ortega (No. 6). But it must be noted that he did put a sound beating on Ortega.
Prediction: Lopes is younger and quicker than Volkanovski. But there’s a reason why the Aussie is the No. 1 contender in the lightweight division. Volkanovski will be fighting in his 10th straight title bout.
The level of experience and the guile he’s gained from so many major fights will give him the edge. Take Volkanovski in the UFC 314 picks in a bout that figures to be extremely close to call.
Fighter Spotlight: Michael Chandler
At 38, the question is how much does Chandler (23-9) have left in the tank? He’s lost two in a row and four of his last five bouts. Chandler has gone nearly three years without a victory.
Chandler’s resume does list plenty of signature fights. He’s tangled twice with Charles Oliveira and also fought Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier. What his list of accomplishments doesn’t include is a selection of big-time wins. Chandler has built a reputation as a fighter who puts on a great show, but ultimately goes out on his sword.
Fighter Spotlight: Paddy Pimblett
Even though he’s still just ranked as the No. 12 contender, there’s a sense that Pimblett (22-3) is on a path to greatness in the lightweight division. Since joining UFC, the Liverpool fighter is riding a six-fight win streak.
Four of those wins have come via submission or stoppage. Overall, he’s won his last eight fights in a row.
Prediction: Pimblett is first and foremost a grappler. If Chandler wants a chance in this fight, he needs to go for the gusto early and seek an early knockout. Pimblett does have a tendency to leave his chin exposed. If the bout goes to the mat, it’s going to be Pimblett’s fight. Go with Pimblett in the UFC 314 picks.
Once you have settled on the wagers you will be making with each of your UFC 314 bets, you’ll want to be sure to have a look at the massive amounts of data available to you only at SBS. For more insightful analysis into all of the bouts on the card covered here, be certain to have a look at the UFC betting sites guide. These guides are providing the latest assessments for all of the betting lines the oddsmakers are setting on the sport. This information will aid you in assembling some solid UFC 313 picks.
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About the Author
Theo is our NFL guy. He is the go-to man for all things football and has proven himself to be one of the most expansive writers here, with a broad knowledge of North American sports. He's a veteran journalist based in Ontario, and has covered the gambling and sports betting industry since 2016. He has written more than two dozen books and covered the NFL since the early 1990s.
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