Ali Akbar Rosady
Sydney Olympic Park, Australia – The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, this Saturday for UFC 325, headlined by a highly anticipated featherweight championship rematch between reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski and the surging second-ranked contender, Diego Lopes. The main event, billed as UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2, marks a significant return to Australian soil for the promotion, featuring one of the sport’s most dominant champions in a pivotal defense. Preliminaries for the event are scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. ET, with the main card slated to begin at approximately 9 p.m. ET, available for streaming on Paramount+.
The championship bout pits Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski, the first Australian-born fighter to capture a UFC title, against a determined Diego Lopes in a repeat of their acclaimed encounter at UFC 314 last April. Their initial clash for the vacant UFC featherweight championship was a unanimous decision victory for Volkanovski, a contest that also earned "Fight of the Night" honors due to its high-octane action and competitive exchanges. That previous encounter showcased Lopes’s resilience and dangerous submission game, pushing Volkanovski to deliver a performance that reaffirmed his elite status.
Ahead of the rematch, oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook have listed Volkanovski as a -148 favorite, requiring a $148 wager to yield a $100 profit. Conversely, Diego Lopes enters as the underdog at +124, meaning a $100 bet would return $124 if he secures the victory. These odds reflect the competitive nature of their first meeting and the perceived threat Lopes continues to pose to the long-reigning champion.
Further down the card, the co-main event features a lightweight contest between the sixth-ranked Dan "The Hangman" Hooker and the eighth-ranked Benoit "God of War" Saint Denis. Saint Denis is currently favored at -375, while Hooker is positioned as a +295 underdog. This matchup promises an explosive encounter between two fighters known for their aggressive styles and willingness to engage in stand-up wars, with significant implications for the lightweight division’s top ten rankings.
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For bettors seeking informed insights, SportsLine expert Kyle Marley, a seasoned MMA analyst, has provided comprehensive predictions and betting advice for UFC 325. Marley’s track record highlights his consistent success, with $100 bettors who have followed his picks over the past three-plus years reportedly accumulating nearly $10,000 in profit. Since May 2018, his total returns have exceeded $21,000. His analytical prowess includes a notable streak of hitting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020, following the UFC’s brief hiatus due to the global pandemic. Most recently, Marley achieved a 7-4 record on his picks at the last UFC event, demonstrating his ongoing predictive accuracy. His detailed analysis for Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 and other matchups on the card is available to SportsLine members.
The shift in UFC broadcasting has made Paramount+ the new home for all numbered UFC events and UFC Fight Night cards. This move eliminates the traditional Pay-Per-View model for these events, allowing subscribers to stream every live fight at no additional cost. Beyond live events, Paramount+ offers a library of pre-fight docuseries, full-length replays of past fights, and an extensive archive of historical bouts, providing comprehensive content for MMA enthusiasts. The platform’s integration of UFC content represents a significant change in how fans access the sport, aiming to make premium MMA accessible through subscription.
Fighter Profiles and Recent Form
Alexander Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC)
At 37 years old, Alexander Volkanovski stands as a two-time UFC featherweight division champion and is currently ranked No. 5 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. His career began with a professional boxing stint, winning his sole fight in April 2015 via unanimous decision against Dillon Bargero. Volkanovski’s fighting style is characterized by relentless pressure, high-volume striking, and strong wrestling, making him a formidable opponent in the octagon.
His professional MMA record of 27-4 includes 13 victories by knockout, three by submission, and 11 by decision, showcasing his versatile finishing capabilities. His four career losses include three by knockout and one by decision. Despite a recent string of challenging fights, including two attempts at the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev and the first Lopes bout, Volkanovski remains a dominant force in the featherweight division. He holds the distinction of being the oldest fighter in history to win the UFC featherweight championship, achieving the feat at 36 years and 195 days. In 2025, Australian MMA recognized his continued excellence by naming him the Male Next Level Fighter of the Year. The rematch against Lopes offers Volkanovski an opportunity to solidify his legacy and demonstrate his enduring reign in the division.
Diego Lopes (27-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Diego Lopes, 31, commenced his professional MMA journey in 2012, making his debut at It’s Time Combat 1 in Manaus, Brazil. His early career saw him compete across various promotions in Brazil and Mexico, eventually joining the LUX Fight League in October 2018. Lopes gained wider attention in 2021 through Dana White’s Contender Series 37. Although he suffered a loss to Joanderson Brito in his DWCS appearance, his impressive performance earned him a contract with the UFC.
Lopes made his official UFC debut at UFC 288, where he lost a unanimous decision to Movsar Evloev. However, similar to his first encounter with Volkanovski, this bout also earned "Fight of the Night" honors, highlighting his exciting and aggressive approach. Since that debut, Lopes has been on an impressive run, winning six of his last seven fights, demonstrating significant growth and adaptation within the elite promotion. His overall career record of 27-7 reflects a well-rounded skill set, with 11 wins by knockout, 12 by submission, and four by decision. Lopes is known for his dangerous jiu-jitsu and increasingly potent striking, making him a legitimate threat to any opponent, particularly in a rematch setting where adjustments can be critical. His path to the title has been marked by overcoming adversity and consistently delivering memorable performances.
Expert Predictions and Key Matchups
Kyle Marley’s extensive analysis for UFC 325 extends beyond the main event. Among his disclosed picks, Marley is backing Billy Elekana (-258) to secure a decision victory over Junior Tafa in their heavyweight clash. Marley’s rationale for this pick emphasizes Elekana’s grappling advantage: "Tafa might get the striking match that he needs here, but I’m sure Elekana could run through him with wrestling if he wants, because Tafa is that bad on the ground." While acknowledging Elekana’s capability in striking, Marley suggested a wrestling-heavy approach would be optimal for a decisive win, stating, "Elekana can win a striking match here as well, but that is just going to be a closer fight, and he put himself at risk of getting knocked out. I hope he wrestles, but give me Elekana to win a decision." Marley’s full slate of picks for Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 and the entire card, including a fighter he identifies as "the better overall fighter" poised for a significant victory, is exclusively available on SportsLine.
UFC 325 Main Card and Betting Odds
The full main card for UFC 325, with odds provided by DraftKings and subject to change, is as follows:
- Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovski (-148) vs. Diego Lopes (+124)
- Lightweight Bout: Dan Hooker (+295) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (-375)
- Lightweight Bout: Rafael Fiziev (-122) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (+102)
- Heavyweight Bout: Tai Tuivasa (+260) vs. Tallison Teixeira (-325)
- Featherweight Bout: Quillan Salkilld (-1000) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (+676)
These matchups present a diverse range of styles and stakes, from the highly anticipated championship rematch to critical divisional clashes and intriguing heavyweight battles. The event is set to deliver a night of high-stakes mixed martial arts action from Sydney, Australia.
For those looking to engage with sports betting on UFC 325, DraftKings Sportsbook is offering a promotion where new users can receive $300 in bonus bets with a winning $5 wager. Additionally, new users can explore the latest bet365 bonus code, which provides $200 in bonus bets after placing an initial $5 bet. These offers represent opportunities for new bettors to participate in the excitement surrounding the event.
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