TLDR
- Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against Lopes in a rematch less than one year after their first meeting
- Volkanovski won the first fight by unanimous decision at UFC 314, out-landing Lopes 158-63 in strikes
- Lopes knocked down Volkanovski in round 2 of their first fight but couldn’t capitalize
- Lopes has finished four of his last five opponents, all within two rounds
- The betting odds favor Volkanovski between -145 and -150, with Lopes as the underdog at +120 to +125
UFC 325 Main Event Odds
Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes (Featherweight Championship)
- Alexander Volkanovski: TBD
- Diego Lopes: TBD
All UFC 325 Fight Odds
Main Card (9:30 p.m. ET)
Prelims (7:30 p.m. ET)
- Justin Tafa vs Billy Elekana (Heavyweight)
- Cam Rowston vs Cody Brundage (Middleweight)
- Jacob Malkoun vs Torrez Finney (Middleweight)
- Jonathan Micallef vs Oban Elliott (Welterweight)
Early Prelims (5:30 p.m. ET)
- Kaan Ofli vs Yi Zha (Featherweight)
- Kim Sang-wook vs Dom Mar Fan (Lightweight)
- Keiichiro Nakamura vs Sebastian Szalay (Featherweight)
- Sulangrangbo vs Lawrence Lui (Bantamweight)
- Aaron Tau vs Namsrai Batbayar (Flyweight)
Fight Time Information
Saturday, January 31, 2026
- Main Card Start: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT / 1:30 a.m. GMT (Feb 1)
- Salkilld vs Mullarkey Walk Time: Approximately 9:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
- Broadcast: Paramount+
Volkanovski enters as the betting favorite, priced between -145 and -150 across major sportsbooks. Lopes comes in as the underdog at +120 to +125. The odds remain similar to their first meeting, where Volkanovski was a -114 favorite.
The two fighters last met at UFC 314 in April 2025. Volkanovski won by unanimous decision after controlling most of the fight. The champion out-landed Lopes 158-63 in total strikes across five rounds.
Despite the lopsided striking numbers, Lopes showed his power in round 2. He scored a knockdown that hurt Volkanovski badly. The champion recovered and won at least three rounds clearly on the scorecards.
Lopes brings a strong finishing record into the rematch. He has finished four of his last five opponents. All four finishes came inside two rounds.
The Brazilian has 23 finishes in 27 career wins. This includes 12 submissions and 11 knockouts. His most recent victory came via spinning back elbow TKO against Jean Silva.
Volkanovski’s Championship Experience
Volkanovski is 37 years old and has proven his ability to adapt in rematches. His trilogy with Max Holloway showed improvement in each fight. The champion delivered what many consider his best performance in their third meeting.
The Australian used his jab and footwork to control the pace in their first fight. He forced Lopes to chase and found clean counters throughout. Volkanovski closed the fight strongest in round 5.
The short turnaround between fights is less than one year. This gives both fighters limited time for adjustments. Lopes will likely come out more aggressive from the opening bell.
Keys to Victory
Volkanovski’s path to victory relies on volume striking and range control. His tactical discipline and defense allowed him to bank rounds consistently in their first meeting. The champion needs to avoid wild exchanges and scrambles.
Lopes needs to turn moments into full rounds. His knockout power remains his best weapon. The challenger has shown he can hurt Volkanovski and has the durability to absorb damage.
Volkanovski has been finished in three of his four career losses. Age and accumulated damage from previous wars could be factors. However, his cardio and chin held up well in their first fight.
The co-main event features Dan Hooker against Benoit Saint Denis in a lightweight bout. Rafael Fiziev faces Mauricio Ruffy earlier on the card.
Volkanovski has defended his title successfully in the rematch situation before. The betting markets reflect confidence in his ability to repeat his first performance against Lopes.
