Get ready for a massive night of fights! UFC 314 touches down in Miami this Saturday, April 12th, featuring a stacked card from top to bottom. The Ringside Report MMA team – Dave Simon, Fred Garcia, and AJ D’Alesio – dove deep into the matchups on their latest episode, chopping it up with the live audience and laying down their predictions.
The main event sees a former dominant champion look to reclaim gold against a surging, dangerous contender for the vacant Featherweight title. Plus, a lightweight clash pits a powerful veteran against one of the sport’s most talked-about rising stars. Who are the guys picking? What are the key factors in these high-stakes bouts? Let’s break down the analysis from the show.
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UFC 314 Preview Index
Enjoy UFC 314, follow our picks (or make your own), and be sure to tune in for the watch-along Saturday night at 10PM ET on the Ringside Report Network. We’ll see you there for all the fights, laughs, and live reactions. Let’s find out if our bold predictions come true! And hey, if we get some right, don’t forget to brag with us; if we whiff on a pick, we’ll own that too with a smile. That’s the fun of MMA – anything can happen, and we’re here for all of it.
Volkanovski vs. Lopes: Crowning a New Featherweight King
The UFC 314 main event spotlight shines on the vacant UFC Featherweight Championship, as former long-reigning king Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski faces the red-hot Diego Lopes. With previous champion Ilia Topuria moving up to lightweight, this five-round battle will determine the new ruler of the 145-pound division.
While excited about the fight itself, Fred Garcia couldn’t help but feel that Topuria left the division prematurely. “Toporia to me is still the champ of that division,” Fred lamented, contrasting Topuria’s move with legends who cleared out their weight classes. “I kind of miss the days of guys really clearing out their division…Toporia should be defending that title, I feel”. Still, Fred acknowledged the quality of the matchup: “Volkanovski, Lopes is a great fight.
Very, very good fight…Lopes is on a great sequence”. Fred made his pick clear early, backing the challenger based on momentum and age. “I’m high on Lopes right now, man…I’m going to go right away and say I’m picking Lopes, man. He’s been on a very good streak lately…I think he’s younger, hungrier. Volka has had some tough fights in recent years. So I’m leaning towards Lopes”.
Dave Simon echoed Fred’s sentiment, expressing significant concerns about Volkanovski’s current status. “The fact that he’s 36 hasn’t fought in over a year now, and it’s coming off two straight knockouts doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in Alex Volkanovski”. Volkanovski hasn’t competed since February 2024, suffering back-to-back KO losses to Islam Makhachev (at lightweight) and Topuria.
Dave believes the timing favors Lopes heavily. “This sport is momentum, is age, it’s timing, it’s getting the right fight at the right time…I think if this fight took place two years ago, Volkanovski wipes the floor with Lopes, but this is a different situation, a different Volkanovski and a different Lopes…It’s just different. It’s a different time right now and I got Diego Lopes winning this fight”. Dave even predicted how it would end: “I think Lopes wins and wins by a finish…probably a TKO in the second or third”. The live chat seemed to agree, with Patrick C. Hamilton dropping a super chat stating he was “going with Lopes”.
AJ D’Alesio wrestled with the pick, acknowledging Volkanovski’s legendary status and toughness. “The guy’s always been a champ no matter what,” AJ stated, but conceded the hard realities. “it’s so, it’s such a tough fight for him because this is his last stand…he has to either prove a point or he’s going to have to step aside”. AJ sees Lopes as a complete fighter, hitting his prime.
“This Lopes man on the mat and his stand up, the guy is phenomenal. He’s like, he’s a submission artist…He’s right at that 30-year mark…unfortunately, Volkanovski is on his way out”. AJ’s main reservation was Volkanovski’s legendary gas tank. “If he could really like make it a tough couple of first rounds to Lopes, he could gas that guy out…But if Lopes is able to handle it…get him to the ground and keep like that top control, he’s going to win the fight”.
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Dave also touched upon some behind-the-scenes tension between Lopes, who trains in Mexico despite being Brazilian-born, and Mexican fighter Yair Rodriguez, stemming from gym rivalries and national representation. This adds another layer of intrigue should their paths cross down the line.
Audience Take: The live chat chimed in with support for Lopes as well to win at UFC 314. One notable viewer, Patrick C. Hamilton, even dropped a “triple seven” super chat to say he’s “going with Lopes and $5 on AJ’s picks”. The audience seems to sense an upset brewing, echoing the hosts’ feeling that the featherweight division’s momentum currently favors Lopes.
Key Storyline: There’s also off-cage drama adding spice here. Dave mentions a beef between Lopes and Yair Rodriguez (who fights later on the card). “Yair… and Diego Lopes got into it at the press conference… beef with their gyms and all sorts of stuff”.
Yair, a proud Mexican, is upset that Lopes (a Brazilian who trained in Mexico) is getting Mexican fan support. There were even reports that Lopes’ friends “jumped one of Yair’s teammates”. All this bad blood suggests a future Yair vs. Lopes showdown could be on the horizon, especially if both win or both lose. For now, Lopes needs to seize his golden opportunity, and our panel largely believes he will.
Chandler vs. Pimblett: Lightweight Star Power Collision
The UFC 314 co-main event promises fireworks as veteran Michael “Iron” Chandler faces the UK sensation Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett in a crucial lightweight bout. Chandler, now 38, desperately needs a win after a two-year layoff waiting for Conor McGregor ended in a submission loss to Charles Oliveira last November. Pimblett, 30, is on a tear, winning eight straight, including a dominant first-round submission of Bobby Green last July.
AJ D’Alesio believes this fight is tailor-made for Pimblett to ascend to superstardom, comparing his potential drawing power to McGregor’s. “The UFC basically needs Patti to win…Patti is that star. Like, everybody recognizes him. Everybody knows his hairstyle. Everybody loves his accent…And if he could beat Chandler and get big names under his belt, this is what the UFC needs”. AJ feels Pimblett is just entering his peak years, while Chandler is on the decline. “He’s just coming into the Patti days, man. We’ve got five more years of Patti. I don’t think we’ve got five more years of Chandler”.
Fred Garcia agreed with the pick, highlighting Pimblett’s significant size advantage at lightweight. “Patti cuts a lot of weight in. He’s much taller. Like he looks bigger”. Fred predicted a finish on the ground: “I’m going to go with Patti, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he rear naked chokes him or something like that. So I’m going to go with Patti by submission”.
Dave Simon also sided with Pimblett, citing the familiar themes of age and career trajectory. “I’m pretty confident in Patti winning”. While acknowledging a possible submission, Dave leaned towards a hard-fought decision victory for “The Baddy”. “I think it goes to decision if I were to pick three rounds”. Dave noted that a win over the #7 ranked Chandler would catapult Pimblett into the division’s elite and potential title talks. “The UFC might have themselves a real star with Patti the baddie…Very big fight for Patti and the UFC”.
Audience Take: The chat and comments were hyped for this one too. Many viewers see Paddy as the fan-favorite. References to “Paddy the Baddy, baby” popped up, showing the audience’s excitement. No one’s counting Chandler out – he’s dangerous – but fans sense, like AJ said, that this is Paddy’s time to shine.
What’s at Stake: Chandler really needs a win to stay relevant at 155 lbs. Dave put it bluntly: “Chandler needs a win… he really needs a win”. At 2-4 in the UFC, he’s got his back against the wall. Conversely, a Paddy win skyrockets him: beating a former Bellator champ and UFC title challenger could put Pimblett in line for top contenders. Expect fireworks – the hosts agree this fight could steal the show.
This one should be FUN at featherweight 👊@PanteraUFC vs @PatricioPitbull
— UFC (@ufc) April 10, 2025
[ #UFC314 | SAT 10pmET on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/Flc6zSO6Gb
Rodriguez vs. Pitbull: Bellator Legend Meets UFC Striker
In another compelling featherweight contest, former UFC interim champion Yair “El Pantera” Rodriguez welcomes former two-division Bellator champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire to the Octagon. Rodriguez, 32, looks to rebound from consecutive losses to Volkanovski and Brian Ortega. Pitbull, a Bellator mainstay and legend, finally makes his UFC debut at 37, coming off a TKO win last March but having lost two fights prior to that in 2023.
Oddsmakers favor Rodriguez significantly (-210 favorite), and Dave Simon agrees. He feels Pitbull’s prime was when he defeated Michael Chandler in Bellator years ago. “I think Yaya beats Patricio. Patricio Pitbull had a really good career in Bellator. But man, he’s 37…his best days were several years ago.” While happy to see Pitbull get his UFC shot, Dave sees this more as a good-name opponent for Rodriguez.
Fred Garcia also picked Rodriguez, pointing to losses on Pitbull’s recent record (like one to Sergio Pettis) and a noticeable size and reach advantage for Yair during their face-off. “Yaya is much taller than him…I bet he has a good amount of reach also on him. So I’m going to go with Yaya Rodriguez winning this fight”.
However, AJ D’Alesio calls for the upset special, banking on Pitbull’s experience and well-rounded skills. “I think Pitbull wants to come in and make a statement…He’s going to be the one from Bellator to make that statement…I think Pitbull is going to actually take it. I think he’s going to be a manhandle Yaya”. AJ views Rodriguez as talented but inconsistent and believes Pitbull has the veteran savvy to score a big win in his debut.
This was one of the few fights where AJ split from Dave and Fred. Fred even joked about AJ’s stance by comparing it to Chandler’s UFC start (which, ironically, Chandler won his debut by KO). AJ conceded Chandler did win that first UFC fight, but stressed “that was a different Chandler at the time”. He just feels Pitbull has evolved and can surprise people, even if the timing is late in his career.
Audience Take: The chat seemed more aligned with Dave and Fred here. Many fans know Yair’s flashy style and figure if Pitbull was going to cross over, it should’ve been years ago. One fan in the audience was heard saying “I got Yair Rodriguez”, and another quipped “Patty the baddy. It’s Yair. It’s Diego on Saturday night. I’m telling you, Yair…”, which trailed off but clearly signaled Yair support. Still, some longtime MMA heads are curious to see if Pitbull can shock the world at UFC 314. After all, he holds a win over Michael Chandler and was a dominant champ in Bellator for years.
The X-Factor: As mentioned earlier, Yair and Lopes have beef, which could distract Yair or fire him up. If Yair wins and Lopes upsets Volk, those two are on a collision course. AJ joked that “either way, they’re fighting each other eventually” if circumstances line up. First, Yair must hold serve as the favorite. Keep an eye on whether Pitbull can turn back the clock for one great night.
Mitchell vs. Silva: Clash of Styles at Featherweight
The UFC 314 main card features another featherweight bout with Bryce “Thug Nasty” Mitchell taking on the powerful Brazilian Jean Silva. Silva, 28, scored a devastating knockout in his last fight in February and immediately called for this matchup. Mitchell, 30, known for his grappling prowess and controversial opinions, last fought in December 2023, suffering a KO loss to Josh Emmett.
Dave Simon believes the UFC matched these two specifically to showcase Silva and potentially move past Mitchell. “I think Bryce Mitchell is here to get destroyed by John Silva. I think that’s the whole point…They want Mitchell to lose so they can get rid of the headache”. Dave confidently added Silva (-230 favorite) to his parlay, expecting a setup to pay off. “I don’t always love a setup, but it wouldn’t set up Bryce Mitchell for a vicious beating”.
Fred Garcia acknowledged Silva’s striking power but expressed caution due to Mitchell’s wrestling advantage and Silva’s previously shown vulnerability to takedowns against Charles Jourdain. “if Bryce Mitchell…manages to get him on the ground, that’s going to be an issue for Silva…Bryce Mitchell is a better wrestler than than Charles Jordan”. Fred picked Silva but avoided parlaying the fight: “I’m going to pick Silva to win, but I’m not going to put him on my parlay because I’m kind of scared of a wrestle type of fight”.
AJ D’Alesio shared the same concern, highlighting Silva’s high striking accuracy (59%) but questionable takedown defense (around 50%). “going up against a guy like Bryce Mitchell, Bryce Mitchell is able to control three rounds…just with the top game. He’s going to win by decision. But, you know, at any moment he could get knocked out”. AJ also kept this fight off his parlay, deeming it too unpredictable.
Audience Take: The chat had a field day here. Bryce Mitchell is a polarizing figure – some fans enjoy his “flat Earth” trash talk, others can’t wait to see him humbled. There was a collective gasp/laugh when Dave laid out the UFC’s alleged plan to dump Bryce. One audience member in text said “I’m fine with that” in response to Dave’s setup theory, likely agreeing that getting Bryce beaten wouldn’t hurt. Another user pointed out Bryce’s strengths, noting “if Bryce Mitchell… gets him on the ground, it might be trouble for Silva”, echoing Fred’s sentiment. Overall, the crowd vibe was leaning Silva, possibly for the highlight-reel potential and to see if Dave’s “conspiracy” holds true.
The Bottom Line: All three hosts predict that Jonathan Silva will defeat Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314. Dave even sees it as a potential blowout (“beat the hell out of Bryce Mitchell in a setup fight”). Fred and AJ are a bit more measured, but they too side with Silva’s power and youth. Mitchell’s one hope is to grapple his way to a win, but as Fred quipped, Bryce might be in big trouble if it stays standing. Expect Silva to hunt a knockout, and if he gets it, don’t be surprised if that’s the last we see of Thug Nasty for a while.
Krylov vs. Reyes: Light Heavyweight Veterans Collide
The UFC 314 main card begins with a light heavyweight contest between Nikita “The Miner” Krylov and former title challenger Dominick “The Devastator” Reyes. Reyes snapped a four-fight losing streak with wins in his last two outings, but Krylov represents a step up in competition.
There was quick consensus among the hosts on this one. Dave Simon picked Krylov (-190 favorite) and put him on his parlay, believing Reyes’s recent resurgence ends here. Fred Garcia immediately agreed, stating, “I agree”. AJ D’Alesio, while admitting a fondness for Reyes, also sided with Krylov based on the current landscape and Krylov’s experience edge.
Audience Take: Fans in chat recognize Reyes’s name from his famous fight with Jon Jones, but a lot of them also remember his brutal knockout losses that followed. The mood was cautious for Reyes. Some comments pointed out that Reyes hasn’t looked the same since those KOs and that Krylov is a finisher not to be taken lightly. One viewer noted how surprising it is that “Reyes has had a couple of wins recently, eh?”, to which Dave corrected any misconception by downplaying those wins as lower-level. The audience seemed to side with the hosts: Krylov is the safer bet.
In summary, our hosts are unanimously going with Nikita Krylov to beat Dominick Reyes. The feeling is that Reyes’s comeback will hit a wall, and Krylov’s aggressive striking and sambo style will be too much. Dave specifically mentioned odds (-190) that favor Krylov, indicating Reyes is the underdog. If you’re a Reyes fan, you hope he proves everyone wrong. But Team Ringside isn’t buying a Reyes renaissance – they see Krylov continuing his climb in the division.
Ringside Report MMA’s Official UFC 314 Parlays
It wouldn’t be a preview show without the official parlays! Here’s where the guys are placing their bets, courtesy of Bet99.com:
Dave’s Parlay (+256)
- Nikita Krylov (-190) vs. Dominick Reyes
- Paddy Pimblett (-160) vs. Michael Chandler
- Jean Silva (-230) vs. Bryce Mitchell
- $20 bet pays $71.17
Fred’s Parlay (+655)
- Nikita Krylov (-190) vs. Dominick Reyes
- Diego Lopes (+105) vs. Alexander Volkanovski
- Yair Rodriguez (-210) vs. Patricio Pitbull
- Paddy Pimblett (-160) vs. Michael Chandler
- $20 bet pays $150.11
AJ’s Parlay (+1222)
- Diego Lopes (+105) vs. Alexander Volkanovski
- Paddy Pimblett (-160) vs. Michael Chandler
- Patricio Pitbull (+160) vs. Yair Rodriguez
- Nikita Krylov (-190) vs. Dominick Reyes
- $20 bet pays $264.40
AJ is looking for his fourth straight winning parlay! As Dave noted, “AJ is on fire, though”.
Final Thoughts
That wraps up the UFC 314 main card preview from Ringside Report MMA. The key picks from the show are: Diego Lopes to possibly upset Alexander Volkanovski and claim the featherweight belt, Paddy Pimblett to beat Michael Chandler in a star-making performance, Yair Rodriguez to turn back Patricio Pitbull (with AJ dissenting in favor of Pitbull), Jonathan “JSP” Silva to take out Bryce Mitchell in highlight fashion, and Nikita Krylov to halt Dominick Reyes’s comeback. The panel also gives nods to guys like Dan Ige, Jim Miller, and Yan Xiaonan on the undercard, though those weren’t deeply debated.
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