Volkanovski Dominates Lopes at UFC 325, Defends Featherweight Title in Sydney
Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his UFC featherweight championship against Diego Lopes in a unanimous decision victory at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia, on February 1, 2026. Volkanovski secured the win with scorecards of 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45. The event marked Volkanovski's second consecutive victory over Lopes and his first fight in his home state of New South Wales since 2017.
Event Overview
UFC 325, held in Sydney, Australia, featured the featherweight championship rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes as its main event. Volkanovski, at 37 years old, successfully retained his title through a five-round performance. Following the event, Volkanovski received a US$100,000 Fight of the Night bonus.
The event held personal significance for Volkanovski, marking his return to fight in front of his home crowd in New South Wales after an eight-year absence from his home state. He had previously fought in Australia as champion in a lightweight title bout in Perth in 2023, which he lost by decision.
Volkanovski's Road to UFC 325
Volkanovski's head coach, Joe Lopez, revealed after the fight that the champion had sustained a serious shoulder injury four weeks prior to the event, with withdrawal from the fight being a significant consideration for the team. Despite this, Volkanovski's performance during the match reportedly did not visibly indicate any hindrance.
Leading up to the fight, Volkanovski addressed ongoing discussions about his future in the sport, stating he was not rushing towards retirement and still had "a bit left in me." His training partner, Jamie Mullarkey, also dismissed retirement rumors, indicating Volkanovski was in excellent form during training camp. Volkanovski stated that if he were to experience another defeat after the Lopes fight, he would likely not pursue a third attempt at a UFC title.
Volkanovski's recent career included consecutive knockout losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, though he stated his previous win against Lopes at UFC 314 had affirmed his ability to absorb strikes.
Prior to UFC 325, Volkanovski was actively engaged in various commitments, including press conferences, commercial filming, public appearances, and content creation for his YouTube channel. He was also in negotiations for an upgraded UFC contract, reported to be worth over $5 million annually. His brand, "Volkanovski Inc.," encompasses a YouTube series, merchandise, and sponsorships with companies such as Sportsbet, KIA, Prime, Hublot, and Uber Eats, alongside ownership stakes in Engage sportswear, Combat Supplements, and Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA Camp.
Diego Lopes' Challenge
Diego Lopes earned the rematch after defeating Jean Silva via spinning back elbow in September. Volkanovski evaluated Lopes' fighting style, characterizing it as "dangerous" due to his hand power and willingness to attempt submissions, but suggesting it lacked strategic depth.
"Volkanovski stated Lopes' primary path to victory involved landing a significant strike and noted that Lopes' style created 'big openings.'"
MMA analyst Dan Hardy had described the rematch as an 'unnecessary risk' for Volkanovski, suggesting Lopes may have gained valuable insight into the champion's movements from their previous five-round encounter. Conversely, Volkanovski's training partner Jamie Mullarkey predicted a finish for Volkanovski. Several analysts offered divided predictions, with some favoring a Volkanovski decision and others forecasting a Lopes knockout or TKO. Expert opinions on Lopes' potential for improvement varied, with some suggesting he had not shown sufficient changes, while others pointed to reported improvements in his wrestling.
Weigh-ins and Final Face-off
At the ceremonial weigh-ins in Sydney, Alexander Volkanovski weighed in at 65.54kg, and Diego Lopes at 65.77kg, both successfully making weight for the featherweight championship bout. During their final face-off, Volkanovski stated, "the belt is staying here," while Lopes indicated the rematch would differ from their initial bout. In an undercard incident, Oban Elliott and Jono Micallef required separation by matchmaker Mick Maynard during their face-off, following a reported confrontation earlier in the week.
Post-Fight Injury Update for Lopes
Following the 25-minute bout, Diego Lopes was transported to a Sydney hospital. Initial diagnoses suggested potentially broken feet, which were later confirmed as fractures in both feet. Surgery was not required, and Lopes is expected to use boots and crutches for a few weeks.
The Future of the Featherweight Division
Volkanovski identified undefeated contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy as primary candidates for his next fight. UFC executives confirmed that Evloev and Murphy are scheduled to headline an event at London's O2 Arena on March 21/22 in what is widely considered a title eliminator, with the winner potentially challenging Volkanovski. Evloev's last fight was in December 2024, and Murphy is coming off a knockout victory in August.
Brazilian fighter Jean Silva publicly challenged Volkanovski via social media, stating his intention to train with Ilia Topuria in preparation. Volkanovski attributed this challenge to a perceived issue related to Mauricio Ruffy, a teammate of Silva's, training with Team Volkanovski. Volkanovski stated he is ready to face any opponent the UFC presents and is committed to fighting deserving contenders.
With this title defense, Volkanovski, at 37 years old, became the oldest fighter to successfully defend the UFC featherweight title. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier stated that Volkanovski had solidified his position as the greatest UFC featherweight of all time, surpassing Jose Aldo, citing his eight UFC featherweight title fight victories, including multiple wins against Max Holloway and Jose Aldo.
UFC 325 Undercard Notes
The UFC 325 card also featured other Australian fighters. Jamie Mullarkey, Volkanovski's training partner, competed against Quillan Salkilld. Tai Tuivasa fought Tallison Teixeira, and Dan Hooker was scheduled to fight Benoit St Denis.