ESPN Analyst Turns Bad Blood Into Million Dollar Opportunity for Dana White Ahead of UFC 320 in Mexico

Dana White & Co. may have just served fans the most stacked pay-per-view card of the year with UFC 314. From the very first prelims bout to the explosive main event, every clash kept fans glued to their screens. Miami was on fire that Saturday night—the Kaseya Center lit up as the UFC’s fourth stop in the city delivered a night that’s sure to be remembered. Among the standout moments, Alexander Volkanovski finally put an end to the notorious ‘Drake Curse’ while also smashing the infamous 0-17 streak for fighters over 35 in lighter-weight title fights. He captured the vacant featherweight crown emphatically, setting the tone for a night of unforgettable action.

But here’s what flew under the radar—three of the main card bouts came from the featherweight division. That’s no accident. It looks like the UFC is building something big at 145 pounds. What’s the plan? No one knows for sure just yet. However, UFC legends turned ESPN analysts Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen have begun teasing something major on the horizon—hinting at a potential million-dollar opportunity being lined up by Dana White & Co. Let’s dig into what this could mean for the featherweight division!

Daniel Cormier predicted Yair Rodriguez vs. Diego Lopes

Names like Jean Silva, Diego Lopes, and Yair Rodriguez, each initially scheduled to face different opponents, packed UFC 314 with featherweight firepower. But during the pre-fight presser, things took a dramatic turn. A heated altercation between Lopes and the Mexican suggested that the bad blood between them is far from settled. The tension boiled over at the Kaseya Center when both fighters sat down with reporters. It all kicked off when the Brazilian was asked whether he’d be interested in facing Rodriguez—assuming he got past Alexander Volkanovski and the UFC made its way to Mexico for UFC 320. What started as a simple question quickly turned into a fiery exchange, with security eventually having to step in and separate the two.

The duo clashed after Lopes rubbished Rodriguez and his recent losing record when asked if the duo could face off at UFC 320. Rodriguez then branded Lopes ‘Culon’ which is a Spanish slur. Moreover, accusations were thrown involving both their teams with the Brazilian allegedly beating up Rodriguez’s close friend and teammate. However, when the fight night rolled around, Lopes came up short in his title bid against Volk. On the other hand, Rodriguez rebounded in style with a decisive win over Bellator star Patricio Pitbull. Riding that momentum, he confidently called for another crack at UFC gold during the post-fight press conference.

But not everyone is sold on a title rematch just yet. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, speaking alongside Chael Sonnen on their Good Guy/Bad Guy YouTube show, offered a compelling alternative to Yair Rodriguez’s title ambitions. “After the fight, Yair Rodriguez said, ‘I want to fight Volk,” Cormier said. “But you and I both agree—that’s not the move right now. Their first fight wasn’t exactly close. What this does set up, though, is a clash with Diego Lopes. After that fiery exchange at Thursday’s press conference, how do you not book that fight?”

DC went on to say, “Yair bounced back with a win after a loss, and Diego just came off a tough fight. But that doesn’t matter anymore—these days, the UFC is more open to pairing guys coming off different results. Him versus Diego? That’s a fight you can sell.”

Now, the ball is in Dana White & Co.’s court. Will they make it official? UFC 320, unofficially dubbed Noche 3, is still months away, scheduled for September 13 during Mexico’s Independence Day week in Guadalajara. Moreover, the duo represents the country of Mexico proudly and two local boys slugging it out in the main event of UFC 320 sounds like a recipe for big bucks. But the bigger question remains: who will Alexander Volkanovski choose as his next opponent for the title defense? Let’s hear what the two-time featherweight champ has to say.

Who does Alexander Volkanovski want to fight next?

At 36, Alexander Volkanovski reminded the world why he’s one of the greatest featherweights of all time. In a performance that few saw coming, he silenced the doubters and reignited the faith of millions by reclaiming the undisputed featherweight crown with a clinical win over the surging Diego Lopes. With the belt back around his waist, ‘The Great’ is wasting no time. Determined to kick off this new chapter of his reign with purpose, he’s ready to take on all challengers. At the top of his list? Movsar Evloev and Yair Rodriguez—two fighters he believes have earned their shot at the gold.

Speaking at the UFC 314 post-fight press conference, Volkanovski gave his take on what could be next: “Yair’s been saying he wants the title shot. He’s a good dude—I like him a lot. If the UFC wants to give it to him, I won’t stand in the way. But to be honest, before that fight, I didn’t see him getting the shot. Now that he’s calling for it, I’m not going to say no. I’ll leave it up to the UFC. And obviously, there’s Movsar—he’s undefeated. I’d love to take that zero. We’ll see what the UFC decides.”

Rodriguez previously faced the Aussie for the gold at UFC 290 but came up short. On the other hand, the Russian is on a 9-fight tear in the UFC and is still undefeated in his MMA career. Now, the big question: Who do you think deserves the next crack at Alexander  Volkanovski’s featherweight crown? Yair Rodriguez or Movsar Evloev—who gets the shot? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!