For the first time in his storied career, UFC featherweight champion and Australian legend Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski will defend his title on home soil against No. 2 ranked Diego Lopes in a highly anticipated rematch at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.
(This page will be updated live throughout the event.)
Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his UFC featherweight title, earning a second straight unanimous decision win over Diego Lopes to close out UFC 325 in Sydney.
The sequel was very similar to the original, with Volkanovski using his footwork and elite fundamentals to constantly intercept Lopes as he came forward and frequently land the cleaner, heavier shots.
As in their first meeting at UFC 314, Lopes had moments, dropping the champion with a short right hook in the third and chasing an armbar late in the contest, but he just couldn’t close the gap often enough to unseat “Alexander the Great” at home in Australia.
All three judges scored the fight in favor of Volkanovski, who tied Jose Aldo with his eighth UFC featherweight title fight victory, adding to his already stellar legacy. This was another masterclass in Fight IQ, game planning, and tactical execution, and if Volk really does want to keep going, there are a couple very interesting matchups that await him. | Prelim Results | Scorecards
Benoit Saint Denis maintained his 100 percent finishing rate and collected his fourth straight stoppage win, mauling Dan Hooker in the co-main event to keep climbing in the lightweight ranks.
Hooker actually started well, stabbing Saint Denis with front kicks to the midsection, but as soon as France’s “God of War” was able to bring the fight to the canvas, the momentum shifted. After finding success in the back half of the first round, Saint Denis dominated the second, clobbering Hooker from top position in between hunting for submissions, opening him up and eventually forcing the stoppage with a torrent of unanswered blows from mount.
That’s now four straight finishes for the 30-year-old marauder, who remains one of the most must-see competitors on the roster. He was close to title contention heading into 2024 and he’s back there again now. A massive opportunity awaits no matter who the UFC decides to give him next. | Prelim Results | Scorecards
Mauricio Ruffy returned to the win column in spectacular fashion, stopping Rafael Fiziev in the second round to punch his ticket to the Top 10 in the lightweight division.
Always judicious with his output, Ruffy started to have a little success late in the first round but continually allowed Fiziev to dictate the terms of engagement and control the tempo of the fight.
But shortly after the midway through the second, the 29-year-old drove a bolt of a right hand down the middle that put Fiziev on roller skates, and Ruffy never allowed him to recover, staying in his grill and pounding out the finish.
This was a massive bounce-back win for Ruffy following a lopsided loss to Benoit Saint Denis last September in Paris. He spent the last several months training with Alexander Volkanovski and the City Kickboxing crew in order to take his game to the next level, and the immediate returns look good. Prelim Results | Scorecards
Tallison Teixeira survived a third-round push from Tai Tuivasa, making it to the final horn and collecting a unanimous decision victory, much to the dismay of the partisan crowd in Sydney.
In each of the first two rounds, the towering Brazilian was able to put Tuivasa on the canvas and control things, landing short shots while muting any potential offense from the powerful Australian.
In the third, “Bam Bam” was the fresher of the two and tried to chase down a finish, but was unable to do so, as Teixeira made it through to the horn.
When the scorecards were collected and totalled, Teixeira’s first two rounds were enough to secure him the victory and put him back into the win column. After going just 35 seconds in each of his first two UFC appearances, this was an absolute marathon for “Xicao,” who should climb in the rankings on the heels of this victory. | Prelim Results | Scorecards
How about another first-round stoppage win for 2025’s top newcomer Quillan Salkilld?
The Dana White’s Contender Series alum showcased his grappling prowess in the first start of his sophomore season, taking Mullarkey down early, scrambling back to his feet when the veteran returned the favor, and working to the back off a tremendous throw midway through the first. From there, Salkilld quickly attacked the finish, torquing Mullarkey’s neck at a gnarly angle until the Australian tapped.
That’s now four starts, four wins, and three finishes out of the gates for the 26-year-old, who is already closing in on the longest winning streak in the division and called for an opportunity to face a Top 15 opponent next. Just an absolutely outstanding showing for the Perth man to open the main card. | Prelim Results | Scorecards
UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 took place live from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia on January 31, 2026. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!
