Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) held its official pre-fight press conference earlier this afternoon (watch here) for the upcoming stacked UFC 314pay-per-view (PPV) event. And some super heated drama unfolded, but it wasn’t between fighters who are scheduled to fight each other.
On the contrary, it was between UFC 314 headliner Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez.
Yesterday, during UFC 314 media day (watch here), Rodriguez trashed Lopes for representing Mexico even though he was born in Brazil. Then, at today’s press conference, a reporter asked Lopes about it, to which Lopes brushed it off. Another reporter then asked about a potential fight with “El Pantera” later this year at Noche UFC.
“How many losses does he have in a row?” “How many? Two? That’s not enough [for a title fight], ”Lopes said.
And that’s when the drama exploded.
“P—ssy,” Rodriguez said. “Didn’t you jump Marco [Beltran] between you and your team? Didn’t you jump Marco with your team? Yes or no? I’ve been waiting for the right moment to tell you this to your f*cking face. You’re going to pay for Marco.”
Marco Beltran is a former UFC fighter and close friend of Rodriguez. A few years back, he fought Lopes and was submitted with a heel hook.
“Talk about my team, and the same thing that happened to him will happen to you,” Lopes responded (h/t MMA Junkie). “You threatened her, you threatened her. You threatened a girl, and you’re going to pay.”
“Don’t twist up words,” Rodriguez concluded.
Thankfully, Mexican mixed martial arts (MMA) reporter, Rodrigo Del Campo Gonzalez, was able to explain via social media what the argument is/was about for more context.
Yair is accusing Diego and his team of beating up former UFC fighter and Yair’s friend Marco Beltrán. Diego the accuses Yair of threatening a female teammate of his and that he’ll pay for it. See next tweet for more context: https://t.co/Ctc8axkEYf
— Rodrigo Del Campo González (@RodDelCampo) April 10, 2025
Context for American media who don’t know this: One of Yair’s best friends former UFC fighter Marco Beltrán has had beef with Diego Lopes and his gym for years. From this Yair has had beef with Diego for sometime, especially after calling him out for this past UFC Mexico show. https://t.co/DeMrTDK5Hl
— Rodrigo Del Campo González (@RodDelCampo) April 9, 2025
It’s safe to say UFC has a big fight on its hands (no, not that one) for UFC 320.
Lopes fights Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant Featherweight title in UFC 314’s main event, while Rodriguezwelcomes former Bellator MMA two-division kingpin, Patricio Pitbull, to the Octagon in “The Sunshine State.”
Summer sizzler inbound?
LIVE! Watch UFC 314 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
FEATHERWEIGHT MADNESS! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., April 12, 2025, with a high-stakes clash between Featherweight standout, Alexander Volkanovski, and rising contender, Diego Lopes, battling for Ilia Topuria’s vacated Featherweight title in the five-round main event. In UFC 314’s electrifying co-headliner from inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla., Lightweight fan-favorite Michael Chandler will face the brash Paddy Pimblett in a five-round co-main event. UFC 314 will also feature a must-watch, bad-blood Featherweight showdown between Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva, alongside another 145-pound clash with Yair Rodriguez taking on promotional newcomer, Patricio Pitbull, and so much more! UFC 314’s start time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).
Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 314 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 314: “Volkanovski vs. Lopes” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
