Michael Bisping strongly refuted Colby Covington's claim that Alexander Volkanovski lacks motivation and is coming back just for a paycheck. Bisping explained Volkanovski is a 'true fighter' with genuine motivation to reclaim the UFC title, emphasizing Volk is driven to end his career positively and does not want to finish with three losses out of four fights. Bisping noted that Volkanovski's impressive stoppage of Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 about two years ago highlights he still has elite skills. This insight makes Volkanovski an attractive betting and fantasy MMA pick due to his continued championship-level ability and real desire to return to the top.

Sean Zerillo strongly recommended betting on the 'decision-only' prop for Alexander Volkanovski, currently priced at -225 against Diego Lopez at UFC 314. Zerillo modeled this prop closer to -350, seeing minimal realistic pathways to Lopez winning a decision over 25 minutes. He concluded Lopez would require multiple knockdowns across different rounds to steal a decision victory, a highly unlikely outcome against Volkanovski's proven championship-level minute-winning capabilities over five rounds. Zerillo considered this prop excellent value despite the higher juice.

Sean Zerillo identified Alexander Volkanovski as a valuable late-round KO prop bet versus Diego Lopez at UFC 314. Zerillo highlighted Lopez's suspect durability and questionable late-round gas tank, referencing his past regional losses and his losing late-round battle with short-notice Dan Ige. Zerillo sees Volk's technical striking, leg kicks, feints, and high fight IQ allowing him to dominate and tire Lopez progressively, then find a late stoppage. Zerillo specifically mentioned Volk's finishing upside in the fourth round (+1600) and fifth rounds (+2000), noting a similar scenario to Volk's victory over Chan Sung Jung.

Sean Zerillo favored Alexander Volkanovski versus Diego Lopez, citing his vastly superior five-round experience, proven cardio, and minute-winning striking. Zerillo pointed to Lopez's historical struggles extending to later rounds, including an alarming late-round fade against short-notice opponent Dan Ige. Though acknowledging early knockout risks due to Volkanovski's recent chin and durability concerns coming off two knockout defeats, Zerillo trusted Volk's elite defensive striking (58% striking defense), world-class cardio, and technical superiority would neutralize Lopez's early power. Zerillo recommended taking Volkanovski pre-fight at prices up to -150, seeking to add further live bets on Volkanovski following the first or second round at more favorable odds. He also saw value in extended finishing props like Volkanovski round 4 (+1600) or round 5 (+2000).

Kunath clearly stated the winner of UFC 314's main event as a DFS must-have, specifically mentioning Alexander Volkanovski's historically outstanding DFS scoring. Volkanovski has consistently topped 100 DraftKings points in prior matchups (scores of 136, 131, 114, and 103) attributed to his ability to fully exploit five-round contests. Despite recent struggles, Kunath emphasized his significant DFS floor and ceiling thanks to established track record, extensive fight duration, and potential for high-volume output.

Tim Welch recommended betting under 99.5 significant strikes for Alexander Volkanovski in his fight against Diego Lopes. Welch pointed out that Volkanovski typically lands high volume but believes Lopes' aggressive boxing style and heavy pressure will make it difficult for Volkanovski to reach 100 significant strikes. Lopes brings an aggressive style and power that will disrupt Volkanovski's usual striking rhythm over a five-round contest, making this an enticing option to bet the under.

Michael Bisping confidently selects Alexander Volkanovski to successfully defend his featherweight title against Diego Lopes. Despite recent losses, Bisping highlights Volkanovski's unparalleled experience against elite opponents like Max Holloway and Islam Makhachev, along with exceptional takedown and submission defense demonstrated in previous fights. Although Lopes is younger, fast, and dangerous, coming off victories against Brian Ortega and riding strong momentum, Bisping believes Volkanovski's superior footwork, veteran savvy, striking precision, and comprehensive skill set will overcome Lopes' aggressiveness. Volkanovski's year-long break and renewed psychological focus further convince Bisping he's ready to defend his title decisively.

Bedtime MMA confidently predicts Alexander Volkanovski to reclaim the UFC belt by dominating Diego Lopes en route to a clear unanimous decision, likely 49-46 across the scorecards. He emphasizes Volkanovski's elite fight IQ, defensive skills, jab, accurate striking, inside leg kick game, and superior wrestling control—highlighting Volkanovski's historically strong defensive grappling and physical difficulty to submit. Bedtime MMA expects Lopes to present some threats early, notably calf kicks and counters on exchanges, but argues Volkanovski's skill advantage and relentless wrestling will steadily tire and overwhelm Lopes through late rounds. He foresees substantial damage being inflicted via ground-and-pound during rounds three and four, leaving Lopes near a 10-8 deficit. Bedtime MMA firmly trusts Volkanovski's cardio, strategic approach, and overall MMA abilities, confidently asserting that unless Lopes lands something wildly improbable, Volkanovski's striking accuracy and wrestling control makes a decisive decision victory inevitable.

Kyle Anthony likes Alexander Volkanovski to recapture the featherweight belt at -125 odds, arguing that the recent slump in Volkanovski's record (1-3 in his last four fights with two knockout losses) is misleading. Anthony highlights that the losses came in unfavorable conditions — Volkanovski twice jumped weight classes on short notice, fighting elite fighters (Islam Makhachev, Ilia Topuria), causing weight-management issues and inadequate rest. Additionally, Anthony points out Diego Lopes' notable cardio issues, seen in fights against Brian Ortega and Dan Ige, as Lopez visibly fades past the first round. Anthony believes Volkanovski's elite cardio, relentless pressure, high-volume striking, and leg kick-heavy game will exploit these weaknesses. Anthony also notes Volkanovski's wrestling advantage, citing Lopez' low takedown success (2-for-5 in total UFC attempts). Ultimately, Anthony argues that market perception overly discounts Volk due to recent outcomes, making this an optimal spot to back the former champion at a discounted price of -125.

The Weasle confidently predicts Alexander Volkanovski to regain the featherweight title by fifth-round TKO against Diego Lopes, highlighting Volkanovski's tremendous skillset, strategic IQ, elite-level conditioning, and relentless offensive pressure. Volkanovski has not only proven capable of throwing and landing massive volume—400 strikes thrown, over 200 landed in his third fight versus Max Holloway—but also consistently maintaining extraordinary pace into championship rounds. Against Lopes, a fighter historically fading after early rounds and lacking the proven five-round cardio on a UFC championship stage, Volkanovski's pace, aggression, distance management, and feints should systematically deplete Lopes' endurance. Late-round TKO appears almost inevitable if the fight reaches rounds four and five, emphasizing Volkanovski as highly undervalued at only -125 per the current betting lines due to recent knockout losses that could be skewing market perception.

Gumby Vreeland argued in favor of Alexander Volkanovski over Diego Lopes, believing Volkanovski's well-rounded skillset and extensive championship experience greatly favor him in a five-round bout. Gumby cited concerns about Lopes' recent opponents being specialists (grappling or striking only) rather than well-rounded elite fighters, thus questioning Lopez's true readiness for Volkanovski. He specifically pointed out Lopes' former vulnerability to takedowns, referencing his past fights, notably being grounded multiple times by Joe Anderson Brito and Gavin Tucker. Gumby expects Volkanovski's underrated grappling abilities and elite five-round cardio to provide him clear advantages, especially if he chooses to wrestle early to avoid knockout risk. He highlighted Lopes' narrow paths to victory—primarily knockout—as overly risky, urging bettors inclined toward Lopes to prioritize only knockout props rather than general betting lines.

Tim Bissell highlighted serious reasons for concern regarding Alexander Volkanovski heading into UFC 314 against Diego Lopes. He pointed out Volkanovski's advanced age at 37 and recent physical decline, suffering two stoppage losses due to strikes. Bissell emphasized Lopes' potential dual-threat, as he leads the division with a knockdown rate of 1.3 per 15 minutes—higher than renowned punchers Josh Emmett (1.12) and Ilia Topuria (0.99). On top of the KO danger, Lopes is also the division's premier submission specialist, with a unique capability to threaten repeatedly on the ground, averaging 3.03 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Bissell believes Lopes offers significant value betting at +5.5 (-190), covering scenarios like knockout, submission, or even a tightly fought loss for Lopes, considering the combination of power, ground skill, and circumstances surrounding Volkanovski's recent downturn.

Cody Saftic expressed confidence in Alexander Volkanovski defeating Diego Lopez, highlighting superior experience, striking volume, and pace as key factors. Saftic notes Lopez typically starts very strong and poses substantial finishing threat early. However, Lopez's cardio significantly slows as the fight advances, evidenced by his weaker later rounds against Brian Ortega and Dan Ige, who both capitalized in late rounds. Volkanovski excels both defensively against submissions and offensively with relentless pressure and cardio. Saftic also cited Volkanovski's ability to withstand elite submission artists, referencing survival against prime Brian Ortega. Furthermore, Volkanovski returning after a long break post knockout defeat provides ample time for recovery, making it an ideal scenario for a championship-level performance. Saftic supports live-betting approaches but firmly picks Volkanovski pre-fight to regain his title.

Paul Shaughnessy advises betting Alexander Volkanovski live instead of pre-fight against Diego Lopez, anticipating Volkanovski to potentially struggle early before taking control later in the fight. Shaughnessy emphasizes Lopez's extreme early-round danger, highlighting how Lopez nearly knocked out Brian Ortega and landed significant strikes on Dan Ige early. However, Lopez consistently fades after the first five to ten minutes due to poor cardio, evident in his fights against Ortega and Ige. Considering this is a five-round title fight, Shaughnessy expects Volkanovski's superior cardio, resilience, and high-paced fight style to help him dominate later. Due to Lopez's potent first-round finishing potential, Shaughnessy sees in-fight betting advantageous, likely providing significantly better odds on Volkanovski after a dangerous round one.

Joe Osborne confidently selects Alexander Volkanovski to regain the belt over Diego Lopes (-130 odds), stressing that recent knockout losses were largely due to unique circumstances—short-notice bout against Makhachev and quick turnaround fight vs Topuria. Osborne projects Volkanovski to leverage his dominant wrestling and elite cardio, highlighting previous performances where Volkanovski systematically neutralized flashy strikers such as Yair Rodriguez and the Korean Zombie with superior wrestling. With Lopes having questionable late-round conditioning, Osborne expects Volkanovski to take control as the fight progresses, amplifying value on the betting line at -130 odds.

Georges St-Pierre predicts Alexander Volkanovski's experience and strategic discipline will provide a cardio and efficiency advantage, particularly in late rounds versus Diego Lopez, who notably fades in extended fights. GSP stressed that all elite fighters possess high VO2 max levels, but real difference-makers are efficiency and strategic discipline in the fight. Given Volkanovski's track record in five-round fights, his championship experience and highly disciplined approach should allow him to effectively capitalize late in this match. Volkanovski's ability to fight in deep waters will strongly counter Lopez's weaknesses, making this a big factor supporting a bet on Volkanovski.

Georges St-Pierre believes Alexander Volkanovski will successfully rebound from his recent knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, emphasizing Volkanovski's elite experience as a differentiating factor. While ordinarily a fighter's age and prior knockouts might be major red flags, GSP argues that Volkanovski has wisely taken extensive recovery time, allowing confidence and recovery phases to occur properly. GSP emphasized Volkanovski's experience advantage, especially in championship-length fights, and felt strongly those knockouts should be contextualized—Makachev fight was very short notice, and Topuria matchup came after a quick turnaround from the Makachev bout. This unique context makes Volkanovski an exception according to GSP, worthy of betting at -130 odds.

Brian Campbell sees Alexander Volkanovski's deep-fight experience as critical against the explosive Diego Lopes at UFC 314. Volkanovski holds the UFC featherweight division record for longest average fight duration at nearly 17 minutes, while Lopes has the shortest at under 7 minutes. Despite concerns about Volkanovski's age (36) and recent losses, Campbell emphasized Volk's clear skill and experience edges. However, Campbell noted a troubling statistic: fighters aged 35 and older are historically 0-17 in UFC title fights at 155 pounds and lower, creating significant caution. He stated clearly the fight could hinge on how intact Volkanovski’s chin remains early against Lopes's power, but overall sees Volkanovski's experience as a potential deciding factor.

Jon Anik strongly believes Alexander Volkanovski will be in peak physical shape for his UFC 314 matchup against Diego Lopez, despite recent knockout setbacks. Anik highlighted key indicators of Volkanovski's likely prime form, including outstanding physical appearance and excellent conditioning showcased weeks prior at an earlier press conference. Beyond mere appearance, Anik emphasized Volkanovski's legendary commitment, rigorous preparation, and versatility with stance-switching and high-speed footwork as critical strategic advantages versus Lopez. Even considering Volkanovski's age and recent knockouts, Anik remains confident the Australian star will deliver a prime and motivated performance and justified cautious optimism for those backing Volkanovski at current odds.

Ethan Diamandas expressed caution betting on Alexander Volkanovski (-138) due to significant historical trends and his recent troubling outings. Alexander is now over 35, an age historically problematic for lower-weight UFC champions in title fights (2-31 record). Diamandas pointed out that Volkanovski has also recently experienced alarming knockout losses against powerful fighters like Islam Makhachev (head kick KO) and Ilia Topuria (heavy combo KO), suggesting possible diminishing durability and reaction time. Even though Volkanovski remains elite overall, Ethan emphasized these warning signs as justification for doubting his viability as a favorite in this bout versus Diego Lopez. Ethan strongly favored betting against Volk due to these clear, statistically-supported red flags.