Paddy Pimblett is set to make his highly anticipated comeback to the Octagon at UFC 314.
“The Baddy” will face off against seasoned veteran Michael Chandler in the co-main event at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Pimblett`s last fight was in July of the previous year at UFC 304 in Manchester, where he defeated King Green with a first-round triangle choke.
Chandler, his opponent, is a former three-time Bellator lightweight world champion. His last fight was a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in November.
This upcoming bout pits the No. 7 and No. 12 ranked fighters in the lightweight division against each other, both aiming to climb the rankings for a future title shot.
Islam Makhachev, currently topping the men`s pound-for-pound rankings in the UFC, is the reigning lightweight champion.
Pimblett was not part of the UFC`s return to the UK last month when Leon Edwards fought Sean Brady at the O2 Arena.
Instead, he was watching from ringside as his close friend Molly McCann announced her retirement after losing to Alexia Thainara in the first round.
McCann`s defeat visibly upset Pimblett, and he will be motivated to honor McCann, whom he referred to as his “big sister” on Instagram, when he enters the cage in Miami this weekend.
UFC 314 Main Card Fights
The main event will feature Alex Volkanovski versus Diego Lopes in a featherweight match.
In addition to the main event, two other featherweight bouts are scheduled: Yair Rodriguez against Patricio Pitbull, and Bryce Mitchell against Jean Silva.
Nikita Krylov will take on Dominick Reyes in a light heavyweight fight. However, the welterweight fight between Geoff Neal and Carlos Pirates was cancelled due to Neal`s elbow injury requiring surgery.
The preliminary card will include two more featherweight fights: Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson, and Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa.
In the lightweight division, Jim Miller, 41, will fight against 25-year-old Chase Hooper, and Yan Xiaonan will compete against Virna Jandiroba in a women`s strawweight bout.
Main Card
- Alex Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes (vacant featherweight title)
- Paddy Pimblett vs Michael Chandler (lightweight bout)
- Yair Rodriguez vs Patricio Pitbull (featherweight bout)
- Bryce Mitchell vs Jean Silva (featherweight bout)
- Nikita Krylov vs Dominick Reyes (light-heavyweight bout)
Prelims
- Dan Ige vs Sean Woodson (featherweight bout)
- Yan Xiaonan vs Virna Jandiroba (women`s strawweight bout)
- Jim MIller vs Chase Hooper (lightweight bout)
- Darren Elkins vs Julian Erosa (featherweight bout)
Early Prelims
- Sedrigues Dumas vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (middleweight bout)
- Su Mudaerji vs Mitch Raposo (flyweight bout)
- Tresean Gore vs Marco Tulio (middleweight bout)
- Nora Cornlle vs Hailey Cowan (women`s bantamweight bout)
When is UFC 314?
- UFC 314 is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
- The early prelims are set to begin at 11pm BST, followed by the regular prelims at 1am BST on Sunday.
- The main card is expected to start at 3am BST on Sunday.
How to Watch UFC 314
- In the UK, UFC 314 will be broadcast on TNT Sports and streamed on discovery+.
- In the US, ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass are the streaming options.
