Alexander Volkanovski is set to defend his featherweight title in a high-stakes rematch against Diego Lopes, headlining UFC 325 on January 31 (February 1 local time) at Sydney, Australia.
UFC President Dana White confirmed the matchup during an Instagram Live announcement. The bout marks Volkanovski’s first title defense of his second championship reign, following his victory over Lopes at UFC 314 — a closely contested battle that earned him the vacant title.
Lopes made an immediate comeback after that narrow decision loss, delivering a stunning second-round knockout of Jean Silva in the main event of Noche UFC 3. The win not only snapped Silva’s 13-fight streak but also reaffirmed Lopes as one of the division’s most dangerous finishers.
The rematch, however, raises questions within the featherweight landscape. Two undefeated contenders — Movsar Evloev (19-0) and Lerone Murphy (16-0-1) — remain on standby. Evloev has yet to compete in 2025 due to injury recovery, while Murphy is coming off a statement-making first-round finish over Aaron Pico and was strongly rumored to be next.
Murphy expressed his frustration on social media, writing: “Missing the opportunity to fight one of featherweight’s GOATs is what hurts me the most. It’s not about who’s the best anymore. It’s about who’s most popular.”
Despite the controversy, Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 promises to deliver. Their first meeting was technical, competitive, and showcased Lopes’ ability to push the champion to his limits. Now with more experience, momentum, and confidence, Lopes aims to rewrite the story on enemy territory — while Volkanovski seeks to put an exclamation mark on his legacy.
The featherweight division is one of the UFC’s deepest, and UFC 325 could shape the championship picture for all of 2025.
#AD 💳🔥 Unlock global spending power with RedotPay, the prepaid crypto card trusted by 1M+ users and rated 4.7★ on Google Play. Works worldwide on 90%+ of websites and apps including UFC Fight Pass, Amazon, Netflix, Steam, Apple, and Google Play.
No purchase fees. Fast, safe, and secure. Get $5 FREE on your first card purchase using referral code exqfj.
🎁 Check the “Benefits” tab for exclusive rewards and cashback offers!
👉 https://url.hk/i/en/exqfj 🚀