Paddy Pimblett takes on Michael Chandler tonight in an enormous co-main event of UFC 314 in Miami. Liverpool native ‘Paddy The Baddy’ is in for potentially the toughest test of his career to date against the all-action American, who is desperate for a win after losing four of his last five fights. For Pimblett, a statement victory would catapult him into the top 10 of the lightweight rankings as he looks to get in the world title mix.
Topping tonight’s stacked bill at Kaseya Center after Pimblett vs Chandler is Alexander Volkanovski, who will attempt to win back the featherweight title he lost to Ilia Topuria last year. The belt has since been vacated and standing between the Australian and a second championship reign is Brazil’s Diego Lopes, whose compatriot Patricio Pitbull is also competing tonight as the legendary four-time Bellator world champion makes his UFC debut aged 37 against Yair Rodriguez.
Elsewhere on the main card, there’s a grudge match between Bryce Mitchell and Jean Silva, after Nikita Krylov and Dominick Reyes have gone head to head in the light-heavyweight division. On the prelim bill, there were dominant wins for Virna Jandiroba, Chase Hooper and Julian Erosa. Follow UFC 314 live below!
More solid low leg kicks from the taller and rangy Woodson – that’s been the best weapon of this fight so far.
More feinting and strikes thrown in bunches, but Ige really hasn’t found his range yet, those kicks to the calf largely keeping him at bay.
He finally throws out a nice low kick of his own and goes for the takedown, but it’s well defended quickly by Woodson.
Back to the feet and the much smaller Ige is again trying to measure the distance better, producing a spinning kick before the buzzer.
An intriguing opening round fought entirely on the feet, both men throwing plenty of strikes but only landing intermittently.
A solid start from Ige but Woodson quickly settles into the bout and throws out some smart leg kicks.
So much feinting going on as they try to work each other out.
Dan ‘50K’ Ige could really do with a win here after losing three of his last four fights, including successive unanimous decision defeats to Diego Lopes and Lerone Murphy.
Sean Woodson, though, has only lost once in professional MMA – and that was back in 2020 as he was submitted by Julian Erosa.
He’s won four in a row since drawing with Luis Saldana in the summer of 2022, immediately stopping Fernando Padilla in December after outpointing all of Alex Caceres, Charles Jourdain and Dennis Buzukja.
It’s time for the feature fight of his prelim card in Miami.
Back to the men’s featherweight division as American duo Dan Ige and Sean Woodson go head to head.
All three judges score the bout 30-27 in favour of Jandiroba, who will surely find herself as the No1 contender to women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili next week.
A dominant performance on the ground by the Brazilian, who notches up her fifth straight win.
A damaging defeat for Yan and her hopes for another world title opportunity.
For the second time in this fight Jandiroba locks in an armbar when there are just seconds to go.
Yan is saved again, but she will definitely have lost this on the cards.
Into the final round we go.
Yan is defending desperately again, trapped low against the cage by the relentless Jandiroba.
The Brazilian has been on top on the ground for eight minutes in this fight so far.
She’s surely on her way to No1 contender status here in the women’s strawweight division.
Brilliant from Yan to finally break free from that truly gruelling sequence and turn the tables in an awesome display of defiant spirit.
But Jandiroba is so wily and almost locks in another armbar before the end of round two.
Down goes Yan again early in the second – the pressure constantly exerted by Jandiroba is just relentless.
She’s got her back again on the mat, totally controlling proceedings and locking in the body triangle as she searches for the submission while hammering in some vicious elbows.
Jandiroba continually runs her hands and forearm across the face of Yan, trying to expose her neck for the choke.
This is really, really horrible for Yan, who will not yield.
Gritty stuff from Jandiroba but so effective.
Jandiroba’s pressure relents as she takes a step back and Yan tries to keep her at bay by throwing out the up kicks.
But the Brazilian leaps on her again, getting her back before locking in the armbar!
Yan is in big trouble, but she’s saved by the buzzer to signal the end of the round.
A few more seconds there and she surely would have tapped.
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