TLDR
- Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) at UFC 325 in Sydney
- Volkanovski controlled most of the fight despite being knocked down briefly in Round 3
- The victory marks Volkanovski’s sixth successful featherweight title defense
- The 37-year-old champion is now one defense away from tying Jose Aldo’s division record of seven
- Volkanovski is expected to face undefeated contender Movsar Evloev next
Sources: CBS Sports | Bleacher Report | ESPN
Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his featherweight championship against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 on Saturday night in Sydney, Australia. The judges scored the bout 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 in favor of the Australian champion.
The victory at Qudos Bank Arena marked Volkanovski’s sixth successful title defense. He now sits one defense away from tying Jose Aldo’s featherweight division record of seven consecutive title defenses.
Volkanovski started the fight with a measured approach in the opening round. He landed enough offense to take the first frame while switching stances and using power shots to control the action.
Lopes improved his performance in the second round by pushing the action more aggressively. However, Volkanovski’s attempted guillotine choke stood out as one of the round’s key moments.
Third Round Knockdown Creates Drama
The third round produced the fight’s most dramatic sequence when both fighters landed heavy strikes. Volkanovski connected with two flush right hands on Lopes.
Lopes then landed a short right hand that knocked Volkanovski to the ground. Despite the flash knockdown, Volkanovski recovered quickly and continued to control most of the exchanges.
The fourth round featured a memorable moment when Volkanovski landed a low blow that temporarily stopped the action. Lopes recovered and the fight continued, but Volkanovski maintained his control.
The championship rounds played out much like the first fight between the two competitors. The rounds remained competitive, but Volkanovski got the better of most exchanges with his technical prowess.
Champion Eyes Record-Tying Defense
This rematch closed the book on Volkanovski’s rivalry with Lopes. He previously defeated Lopes by unanimous decision at UFC 314.
Volkanovski is 37 years old and continues to dominate in a division that typically favors younger fighters. He has dismissed retirement talk heading into this fight.
“I plan on taking minimal damage out there, having a quick turnaround and then we’ll see what happens after that,” Volkanovski told reporters before the fight. “You’re seeing a lot of rumors. You’re seeing a lot of people, ‘Aha, this is going to be his last one.’ Obviously, I put that to bed. Definitely not the right time for this. I’ve still got a bit left in me.”
Lopes showed improvements in his wrestling and cage control compared to their first meeting. However, he couldn’t overcome Volkanovski’s defensive skills and technical striking.
The victory was more decisive than their first encounter. Volkanovski dominated with stance switches, power shots, and strong defense throughout the five-round contest.
Movsar Evloev is expected to be Volkanovski’s next challenger. The 31-year-old contender holds an undefeated record of 19-0.
Volkanovski had already acknowledged Evloev as a worthy contender before fighting Lopes the first time. A fight between Volkanovski and Evloev would pit the division’s greatest champion against its most promising undefeated prospect.
