An Unexpected Rematch
- Benjamin Furnish
- Jan 30
- 2 min read
Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes
Fresh off a chaotic week of fights in Las Vegas for UFC 324, the UFC touches down in Sydney, Australia, for UFC 325.
To the shock of all, the main event consists of a rematch for the Featherweight title between the greatest Featherweight of all time, Alexander Volkanovski, versus a hungry, motivated Diego Lopes.
These two meet less than a year after their first fight.
Prior to their title match in April 2025, Alexander Volkanovski was looking to reclaim his throne after consecutive knockout losses.
On the other side, Lopes, the clear top contender, was looking to usher in a new era for the 145-pound division.
The fight was a five-round war, but in the end, Volkanovski won convincingly.
For Lopes, at 30, fans knew he'd be back challenging for a title. They just didn't expect it to be this quick.
Following his loss, Lopes bounced back with an incredible spinning elbow knockout over surging contender, Jean Silva.
Lopes reminded the world that he was one of the 145-pound elites, but the consensus was that he needed one or two more wins prior to challenging for a title shot.
Furthermore, top contenders like Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy were knocking at the door for a title shot.
Evloev, with an undefeated 19-0 record, and Murphy also undefeated, felt they were deserving of a crack at Featherweight gold.
Yet, to the shock of all, Dana White announced a rematch between Volkanovski and Lopes less than a year later, drawing significant backlash.
Regardless if he's deserving or not, this is a golden ticket for Lopes to superstardom.
If he loses to Volkanovski again, there will be no doubt that he'll move to the back of the line, in one of the deepest divisions.
Stylistically, fans can expect a similar fight.
Despite a four-inch height advantage, Lopes is a brawler, thriving in tight exchanges.
He'll be looking to utilize his uppercuts in the clinch.
Furthermore, if the fight goes to the ground, Lopes, a BJJ black belt, is always a threat with submissions.
On the other side, Volkanovski will look to weaponize his pace over five rounds, overwhelming Lopes.
Despite his shorter frame, Volkanovski has a long reach for the weight class, and when Lopes makes his frantic entrances into striking exchanges, Volkanovski will have to keep him at bay with jabs and straights, disrupting his rhythm and timing.
For Volkanovski, this fight is maximum risk and minimum reward.
If he defeats Lopes again, his legacy doesn't change much.
However, if he loses, it's uncertain whether he'll continue fighting in the UFC.
Regardless of what fans think, whether Lopes is deserving or not, this fight is guaranteed to bring fireworks.
Will Lopes mark a new era for the Featherweight division, or will Volkanovski further cement his status as the GOAT at 145 pounds?
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