UFC 314 Controversy: Jon Anik Reveals His Shocking Volkanovski-Lopes Scorecard

The MMA world is still buzzing after UFC 314’s main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes. While Volkanovski walked away with a unanimous decision victory, not everyone agreed with the judges’ scorecards – including veteran UFC commentator Jon Anik.

In a surprising revelation that has fans talking, Anik recently shared that after the third round, he believed there was a strong case for Diego Lopes being ahead on the scorecards. Let’s break down this controversial take and what it means for the featherweight division.

Jon Anik’s Surprising Scorecard Revelation

As someone who’s watched hundreds of UFC fights from the commentary booth, Jon Anik’s opinion carries significant weight. After calling the action for the Volkanovski-Lopes main event, Anik admitted that following round three, he saw a path for Lopes to be leading the fight.

“I actually had it 2-1 Lopes after three rounds,” Anik revealed on his podcast. “The striking numbers didn’t necessarily support that, but I thought Lopes’s pressure and control moments were making a bigger impression on me than what Volkanovski was doing.”

This assessment stands in stark contrast to the official scorecards, where all three judges gave Volkanovski at least four rounds in the five-round affair.

Breaking Down the Volkanovski-Lopes Fight

When you look at the fight statistics, Volkanovski outlanded Lopes in significant strikes in every round except the second. However, numbers don’t always tell the full story in MMA.

Lopes’s aggression and forward pressure, especially in rounds two and three, clearly made an impression on Anik. The Brazilian contender had moments where he pushed the pace and made Volkanovski fight on the back foot – something we rarely see against the former champion.

Where Anik and the Official Judges Diverged

So why did Anik see the fight differently than the judges? I think it comes down to how different people value different aspects of MMA scoring.

“Effective aggression and octagon control are supposed to be the last criteria considered,” Anik explained, “but when the striking is relatively close, as it was in those early rounds, those factors can tip the scale. Lopes was dictating where the fight took place for significant portions.”

Volkanovski, known for his technical precision, may have been landing cleaner shots, but Lopes’s forward movement and pressure created the impression he was in charge of the fight’s direction – at least until the championship rounds.

Did Lopes Deserve More Credit?

When you consider that Diego Lopes took this fight on short notice, stepping in for the injured Ilia Topuria, his performance becomes even more impressive. The 29-year-old Brazilian showed he belongs among the elite at featherweight, despite coming up short on the scorecards.

Lopes’s stock certainly rose in defeat, and Anik wasn’t the only one impressed:

“For a guy who wasn’t even ranked in the top 10 coming into this fight to push Volkanovski like that? That’s special,” said Anik. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fighting for a title within the next year if he can string together another couple of wins.”

What’s Next for Volkanovski and Lopes?

Despite the controversy, Alexander Volkanovski secured an important victory that keeps him firmly in the title picture. After suffering back-to-back losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, this win was crucial for the Australian’s career trajectory.

As for Lopes, this performance – combined with Anik’s public support – likely means he’ll get another high-profile fight against a top-5 opponent. Names like Brian Ortega, Max Holloway, or even a rematch with Movsar Evloev could make sense for his next bout.

Could We See a Rematch?

When prominent voices like Jon Anik suggest a fight may have been closer than the official scorecards indicate, it often builds momentum for a potential rematch. While an immediate second meeting seems unlikely given the unanimous decision, if both fighters continue winning, we could certainly see them clash again.

Volkanovski himself acknowledged Lopes’s skill post-fight: “He’s tough, man. He brought some problems I wasn’t expecting. Full credit to him for stepping up on short notice and bringing that kind of fight.”

The Bigger Picture: Judging in MMA

Anik’s scorecard revelation highlights the ongoing debates about MMA judging criteria. When even experienced commentators see fights differently than official judges, it raises questions about consistency and clarity in scoring.

What should be weighted more heavily? Significant strikes? Octagon control? Aggression? These questions continue to plague the sport, and high-profile disagreements like this one only fuel the conversation.

What Do You Think?

Did you watch the Volkanovski-Lopes fight? Who did you have winning after three rounds? I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether Jon Anik’s assessment was on point or if the judges got it right.

Drop a comment below with your own scorecard and let’s keep the debate going. And if you’re a die-hard UFC fan, be sure to subscribe for more breaking news and analysis of all the biggest fights!

Source: Jon Anik’s podcast comments following UFC 314 main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes