UFC 314, held on April 12, 2025, in Miami, had high expectations with several huge fights booked for the card. The event featured a vacant featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, as well as a lightweight co-main event between Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett.
Fight Cancellation: Carlos Prates vs. Geoff Neal
However, the perfect main card was marred by a cancellation. A welterweight fight between Carlos Prates and Geoff Neal was scrapped after Neal withdrew due to an injury. The announcement was made during the UFC Mexico broadcast. Neither Neal nor Prates were present on the UFC 314 card. As of this writing, the UFC isn’t planning on finding a short-notice replacement opponent for Prates, and he could be rebooked against a new opponent at a new timeframe.
This was unfortunate news, as Neal's showdown with Prates was expected to be one of the key components of the PPV main card. Neal is a proven veteran who always brings the threat of a knockout, while Prates has taken the 170-pound division by storm with four-straight knockout finishes to start his UFC career.
While Prates will not get a replacement opponent for UFC 314, UFC announcer Jon Anik teased "big news" coming for the Brazilian fighter in the next few weeks. After all, Prates is one of the fastest rising contenders on the UFC roster right now so it’s important to keep him busy while the getting is good.
Prates has recently entered the top fifteen at 170 pounds following an outstanding calendar year in 2024. "The Nightmare" racked up four consecutive knockout finishes inside the Octagon over Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang and Neil Magny, to go along with his impressive KO win over Mitch Ramirez on Dana White's Contender Series in 2023.
Read also: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul
A win over Geoff Neal could potentially have helped the Brazilian break into the top ten, but it looks now as though he may have to wait a little longer for that opportunity.
Interestingly, he teased a possible announcement on that front in a post on his Instagram account, saying: "News and good news coming soon!"
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes FULL FIGHT from UFC 314 | ESPN MMA
Medical Suspensions After UFC 314
Following UFC 314, the Florida Athletic Commission (FAC) issued medical suspensions to 17 fighters. MMA Fighting obtained the medical suspensions from the Florida Athletic Commission with 17 total fighters receiving mandatory layoffs, including a few with indefinite suspensions, which usually means those athletes have to get clearance from a doctor before competing again.
At the top of that list is UFC 314 main event fighter Diego Lopes, who was handed an indefinite suspension following his five-round war with Alexander Volknanovski. Details on the potential injuries that have led to these suspensions are not disclosed though the exact timeframes could be shortened if a fighter gets cleared by a doctor. Due to medical disclosure laws in the state of Florida, details surrounding Lopes’ suspension are not made public but typically an indefinite suspension means there’s enough information about a possible injury that the commission requires a physician to clear the fighter to compete again.
Volkanovski received a 45-day layoff, which is mandatory, although it’s highly unlikely he’d be competing again so soon anyways. Lopes’ right eye looked to be completely shut by the end of the fight where ‘The Great’ reclaimed the 145-pound gold. Volkanovski was suspended just 45 days despite also suffering some damage around his eyes.
Read also: Alvarez vs. Berlanga: Fight Analysis
Michael Chandler was handed a 60-day suspension after he took a lot of damage in his fight against Paddy Pimblett before ultimately falling by third-round stoppage. For the fighters involved in the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett came through his toughest test without a medical suspension whilst Michael Chandler received 60 days.
Along with Lopes, four other fighters were handed indefinite suspensions due to potential injuries with Virna Jandiroba, Chase Hooper and both Marco Tulio and Tresean Gore, who met in the second fight of the night, all appearing to be on the side lines for the foreseeable future.
In Jandiroba’s case, she’ll be hoping that this isn’t anything too significant after emerging as the top contender in the strawweight division with a win over Yan Xiaonan.
Darren Elkins took a lot of punishment despite his fight only lasting one round and was suspended for 45 days. Elkins was hurt early on by Julian Erosa who landed a clean up kick which Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier highlighted on commentary.
Despite fans calling for Elkins to end his career, a 45 day medical suspension means that there is nothing stopping him from getting back inside the Octagon before the end of the year.
Read also: Watch Canelo on DIRECTV
UFC 314 Full Card
With Prates-Neal off the card, UFC 314 was down to 13 fights. Despite losing the fight, UFC 314 is still stacked from top to bottom with exciting fights.
UFC 314 Main Card
- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes; Featherweight title fight
- Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett; Lightweight
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva; Featherweight
- Yair Rodriguez vs. Patricio Pitbull; Featherweight
UFC 314 Prelims
- Nikita Krylov vs. Dominick Reyes; Light Heavyweight
- Dan Ige vs. Sean Woodson; Featherweight
- Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba; Women's Strawweight
- Jim Miller vs. Chase Hooper; Lightweight
- Sedriques Dumas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk; Middleweight
- Darren Elkins vs. Julian Erosa; Featherweight
- Sumadaerji vs. Mitch Raposo; Flyweight
- Alberto Montes vs. Roberto Romero; Featherweight
- Tresean Gore vs. Marco Tulio; Middleweight
- Nora Cornolle vs. Hailey Cowan; Women's Bantamweight
The biggest card of the year so far delivered some remarkable highlights on another classic night in Miami.
| Fighter | Suspension | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diego Lopes | Indefinite | Following fight with Alexander Volkanovski |
| Virna Jandiroba | Indefinite | Potential injury |
| Chase Hooper | Indefinite | Potential injury |
| Marco Tulio | Indefinite | Potential injury |
| Tresean Gore | Indefinite | Potential injury |
| Alexander Volkanovski | 45 days | Mandatory layoff |
| Michael Chandler | 60 days | Following fight with Paddy Pimblett |
| Darren Elkins | 45 days | Took punishment in fight |
tags: #ufc #314 #fight #cancellation