UPDATE: An electrifying rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will headline UFC 325 on January 31, as confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White earlier today. The highly anticipated featherweight title fight will take place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, marking Volkanovski’s return to Australia after his narrow defeat to Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in February 2023.
This matchup is crucial for both fighters. Volkanovski (27-4) aims to secure his second consecutive title defense against Lopes (27-27), whom he previously defeated by unanimous decision at UFC 314 in April. That bout was tightly contested, with judges scoring it 49-46, 49-46, and 49-45. Lopes earned this rematch after delivering a stunning knockout against Jean Silva in September, forcing the champions to face him again.
The announcement of UFC 325 has sent shockwaves through the featherweight division, leaving contenders like Movsar Evloev (19-0) and Lerone Murphy (17-0-1) expressing their frustrations on social media. Murphy lamented missing the chance to fight one of the division’s greatest, stating, “It’s not about who’s the best anymore. It’s about who’s most popular.” Meanwhile, Evloev has proposed a fight with Murphy in early 2026, aiming to position himself for the next title shot.
With Lopes ranked No. 2 and Evloev and Murphy at No. 1 and No. 4 respectively, the stakes are high for this title fight. Fans are eager to see if Volkanovski can reclaim his dominance in the featherweight division or if Lopes will seize the championship opportunity.
As UFC 325 approaches, all eyes will be on the fighters as they prepare for what promises to be a thrilling clash that could redefine the future of the featherweight landscape. Stay tuned for more updates as the fight date nears!
