UFC Just Announced An AMAZING Miami Card Featuring Paddy The Baddy And Michael Chandler In A Five Round Co-Main Event
UFC President Dana White went live on social media late last night to announce a BUNCH of new fights, including the entire UFC 314 card in Miami on April 12th - which absolutely rocks. Ilia Topuria is vacating the Featherweight Championship and moving up to Lightweight permanently as he feels the weight cut is too extreme, so we're getting Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes for the Interim Championship as a five-round main event; a matchup so badass there's no way that fight could disappoint. In the co-main event, also slated for five rounds, Michael Chandler takes on Paddy The Baddy in a bout with massive implications on the division - and Patricio Pitbull, the winningest fighter in Bellator history, will make his UFC debut against Yair Rodriguez on the main card as well. Not to mention - Carlos Prates vs Geoff Neal, Krylov vs Reyes, the extremely fun Miller vs Hooper matchup on the prelims....this card is going to be amazing.
Oh, and I know leading with the co-main event in my headline might've seem a bit strange, but Paddy and Chandler are both so involved in the Barstool world that it felt more appropriate to highlight that fight. Right now on DraftKings, Paddy is -115 and Chandler is -105, and I love Paddy in this one. He's way younger and much superior on the ground in my eyes, and just has to focus on not getting clipped and finishing the fight early....like he did last time. Easier said than done, of course, and Chandler ain't no slouch - I'd imagine the five rounds may favor him more than Paddy considering the experience - but it should be a good one. I love the Will and Taylor guys, so I'd never say this, but some are saying this is the closest possible thing to a Barstool Sports vs Bussin With The Boys fight the UFC, with Paddy obviously aligning with us and Chandler with them. I'd never point that out though.
We also got Leon Edwards vs Sean Brady announced as a new main event for the London fight night at the end of March....
....and Belal Muhammed vs Jack Della Maddalena in a welterweight championship fight I'm not sure will have much buzz around it....
No disrespect to those guys, I just can't imagine trying to sell pay-per-views around that if you're the UFC. I'm sure it'll be fine, though - just focus on Miami! That card is gonna be sick. And what happens with Ilia Topuria now? Does he get a crack at Islam Makhachev right away? That'd be the potential greatest three-fight run in MMA history if he beat Volkanovski, Holloway, and Makhachev. Or does he get Dustin Poirier or another test first?