TLDR
- Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against Diego Lopes in a rematch at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia on January 31, 2026
- Lopes lost to Volkanovski by unanimous decision at UFC 314 in April but earned the rematch after knocking out Jean Silva in September
- Undefeated contenders Movsar Evloev (19-0) and Lerone Murphy (17-0-1) were passed over for the title shot despite their rankings and winning streaks
- Murphy expressed frustration on social media, stating the UFC has become a popularity contest rather than merit-based
- Lopes defended his title shot, telling critics to accept fights offered to them and stop complaining on social media
Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 Set for UFC 325 as Undefeated Contenders Left Waiting
UFC CEO Dana White announced Thursday that Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight championship against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 on January 31, 2026. The event takes place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
The rematch comes less than eight months after their first meeting at UFC 314 in April. Volkanovski defeated Lopes by unanimous decision with judges scoring the bout 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. The fight was competitive, with Lopes recording a knockdown and threatening a finish before losing on all three scorecards.
Lopes earned his second title shot with a knockout victory over Jean Silva at Noche UFC in September. The Mexican fighter’s single win since his loss to Volkanovski was enough to secure the rematch. The 30-year-old holds a 27-7 professional record.
This will mark Volkanovski’s first fight in Australia since his lightweight title challenge against Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in February 2023. The Australian champion holds a 27-4 record and is seeking his second consecutive title defense. His victory over Lopes in April marked the start of his second reign as featherweight champion.
Title Shot Decision Creates Controversy
The announcement left several highly-ranked contenders frustrated. Movsar Evloev, ranked number one at featherweight, holds a perfect 19-0 record. His recent wins include victories over Lopes, Arnold Allen, and Aljamain Sterling.
Lerone Murphy, ranked fourth in the division, has won nine consecutive fights in the UFC. The undefeated British fighter holds a 17-0-1 record with recent victories over Edson Barboza, Josh Emmett, Dan Ige, and Aaron Pico. Murphy took to social media to express his disappointment with the decision.
“Missing the opportunity to fight one of featherweights [GOATS] is what hurts me the most,” Murphy wrote on X. “It’s not about who’s the best anymore. It’s about who’s most popular.”
Fighter Responses and Future Plans
Murphy indicated he plans to adopt a new approach to his career following the title shot snub. He suggested he would follow Kevin Holland’s example by fighting more frequently.
Evloev responded to the announcement by challenging Murphy. “Leon Murphy, I will give you the opportunity to fight the number one contender,” Evloev wrote. “Tell your people [you’re] ready to fight me on the same card as the championship.”
Lopes defended the UFC’s decision on social media. “Take the risks, accept the fights they’re offering you, do a good job and presentation, and then we’ll talk,” Lopes wrote in Spanish. The fighter later posted, “My face when I saw everyone crying. Sitting around, he won’t give you a title fight. Get to work and stop whining on social media.”
Volkanovski had previously expressed interest in fighting Murphy after UFC 319. “You couldn’t have scripted it any better. You get a guy who goes in and does a massive knockout like that on a big card, on a nine-fight win streak — I think it’s a bit of a no-brainer,” Volkanovsky said about Murphy.
UFC 325 takes place one week after UFC 324 in Las Vegas, where Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett headline the event.
