Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes share classy exchange after UFC 314 fight

Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes beat the heck out of one another over the weekend, however there may be clearly nothing however respect between them.

Volkanovski and Lopes met in the principle occasion of Saturday’s UFC 314 in Miami. The pair collided for the featherweight belt, which was vacated by Ilia Topuria earlier this yr.

They ended up going all 5 rounds, and landed some large pictures on one another all through, however after Volkanovski’s determination victory, there’s clearly plenty of love between them.

After the cardboard concluded, Diego Lopes took to social media to provide Alexander Volkanovski some props. Volkanovski then responded with a cultured message of his personal.

See their alternate under:

“Congrats [Volkanovski] and thanks for this combat,” Lopes wrote.

“You’re an unbelievable fighter and human being, brother,” Volkanovski replied. “Want you nothing however one of the best.”

Together with his determination win over Lopes, Volkanovski is now a two-time UFC featherweight champion. He’s the primary fighter within the division’s historical past to attain that feat. In his first reign, he defended the title a formidable 5 occasions, earlier than in the end dropping the belt to Topuria. His title defenses got here in opposition to top-flight foes in Max Holloway (twice), Yair Rodriguez, Brian Ortega, and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.

Lopes earned his title shot in opposition to Volkanovski with a choice victory over Ortega final September. Previous to that, he defeated long-time contender Dan Ige, additionally by determination. That combat got here collectively on simply hours’ discover, when the UFC’s first try at reserving the Lopes vs. Ortega matchup fell by way of. Whereas he didn’t get the end result he needed in Miami, it’ll doubtless solely take a number of extra wins for him to combat for the title once more.