Ali Akbar RosadySydney, Australia — UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is slated to defend his title against Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 325 on January 31 in Sydney, Australia, a booking that has generated considerable discussion among fans and within the mixed martial arts community. The announcement by UFC CEO Dana White on Thursday confirmed a swift rematch for Volkanovski, who, according to initial reports surrounding this booking, secured a vacant featherweight title by defeating Lopes just last April. This quick turnaround, however, comes amidst strong arguments for undefeated contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, both of whom Volkanovski had previously expressed interest in facing.
Volkanovski, a long-reigning former champion and one of the sport’s most decorated featherweights, acknowledged the potential for fan confusion regarding the matchup. Speaking in a YouTube video following the official announcement, Volkanovski offered insights into the UFC’s decision-making process and his own preferences. "Obviously, we all know that I wanted to fight earlier," Volkanovski stated, indicating a desire to return to the octagon sooner than the late January date. "I thought it was going to be December. We thought Lerone Murphy, December, then I guess UFC they’re waiting for Jean Silva and Lopes. Then they were saying Lopes and obviously, we’re like, we just fought that guy."
The champion’s remarks underscore a widely held sentiment that other contenders might be more deserving of a shot at the 145-pound strap. "Is there more deserving people and whatnot? Whatever, everyone knows that I’ll fight anyone, so whoever they put in front of me, I’ll do, but there were questions," Volkanovski elaborated. He further explained that the opportunity to headline a pay-per-view event in his home country of Australia ultimately swayed his decision to accept the January 31 date. "Are we waiting, are we going to do Sydney, because that’s the only reason that I waited because I thought it would be December, but then they’re like, ‘We’ll give you Sydney.’ I’m like, alright, I’ll wait for that. Then it was looking like it wasn’t going to happen, but then did happen, which was great."
The initial encounter between Volkanovski and Lopes, reportedly in April, saw Volkanovski emerge victorious to claim a vacant featherweight championship. While specific details of that bout have not been widely publicized, Lopes has since demonstrated significant growth and momentum within the division. His most recent performance in September, a highlight-reel knockout of Jean Silva, propelled him back into contention and seemingly caught the attention of UFC brass. This decisive victory, showcasing Lopes’s dangerous striking and finishing ability, appears to have been a pivotal factor in securing the rematch. Lopes, holding a professional record of 14 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, has consistently impressed with his aggressive style and submission prowess, making him a perennial threat in the division. His professional journey has seen him accumulate nine victories via submission and four via knockout, highlighting his versatility as a finisher.
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However, the rapid nature of Lopes’s ascent to a title rematch has overshadowed the compelling cases of two undefeated contenders: Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy. Movsar Evloev, with an unblemished professional record of 18 wins and 0 losses, currently stands as the number five ranked featherweight contender. Hailing from Russia, Evloev has compiled an impressive 8-0 record within the UFC, showcasing dominant wrestling, relentless pressure, and improving striking. His recent victories over top-tier opponents, including a unanimous decision win over Arnold Allen at UFC 297 and a similar performance against Josh Emmett at UFC 296, solidified his status as a prime candidate for a title shot. Evloev’s methodical approach and ability to control fights have made him one of the most feared grapplers in the division, presenting a unique challenge to any opponent.
Equally compelling is the case of Lerone Murphy, a British fighter who boasts a professional record of 14 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw. Ranked number ten in the featherweight division, Murphy has steadily climbed the ranks with a series of impressive performances. His most recent outing saw him deliver a spectacular knockout, a spinning back elbow against Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night 239, further elevating his profile. Prior to that, he secured a unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige at UFC Fight Night 235. Murphy’s blend of explosive striking, athleticism, and defensive acumen has made him a fan favorite and a legitimate threat in the featherweight landscape.
Murphy did not conceal his disappointment following the announcement of the Volkanovski-Lopes rematch. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "Missing the opportunity to fight one’s featherweight’s GOATs is what hurts me the most. It’s not about who’s the best anymore. It’s about who’s most popular." This sentiment echoes a growing debate within the sport regarding the balance between meritocracy and marketability in determining title challengers. Evloev, recognizing the immediate impact of the decision, subsequently offered to face Murphy, proposing a bout to determine the undisputed next number one contender for the featherweight title.
Volkanovski himself reiterated his belief that Evloev and Murphy were the more deserving candidates. "I thought Movsar was deserving," Volkanovski stated. "Lerone Murphy, I thought they were the two guys. They were the guys I called out. UFC really wanted Lopes, but at least, hey, you know at least everyone knows they’re in for a treat. It’s going to be a very exciting fight. With your Movsars and Lerones, they’re probably more deserving, but are they going to bring the fight like Lopes would? I think the fans are going to appreciate the fight that me and Lopes are going to have." This perspective suggests that the UFC may have prioritized an "exciting" and potentially high-octane rematch, betting on Lopes’s aggressive style to deliver a memorable performance for the Australian audience.
Volkanovski’s long-time coach, Joe Lopez, also weighed in on the booking, confirming that the team had anticipated a different opponent. "I guess it was a bit of a shock to anybody, because no disrespect to Diego because I think he’s a great fighter but we just beat him," Lopez told Submission Radio. "Movsar and Murphy, I think on paper are probably more deserving of that title shot, but we don’t call the shots, that’s up to the UFC and they’ve given us Diego, so that’s the card they’ve given us and that’s the one we’re going to play."
Lopez provided further chronological context regarding the negotiations. The team had initially expected to fight in December, potentially headlining a card with either Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy as the opponent. Discussions even included the winner of a hypothetical bout between Murphy and Aaron Pico. "So we had that it was going to be out of Murphy or Pico and maybe Movsar, but we didn’t really have much hope on that," Lopez recalled. The landscape shifted dramatically following Murphy’s impressive knockout. "Then when Murphy had that spectacular KO, we said, ‘Yeah, it’s Murphy.’ And all indications and everything led to Murphy until Diego had his spectacular KO and everything changed."
According to Lopez, the idea of a rematch with Lopes was first tabled by the UFC approximately a week or two after Lopes’s knockout victory over Jean Silva. The confluence of Lopes’s sudden surge in momentum and the opportunity for Volkanovski to fight in his home country appears to have sealed the deal, despite the perceived deservingness of other contenders. While the Sydney event provided a compelling incentive for Volkanovski to wait, it does not entirely clarify the decision to bypass two undefeated, highly-ranked fighters in favor of a fighter he had reportedly already defeated for the belt.
The UFC 325 main event will therefore present a unique scenario. For Alexander Volkanovski, it is an opportunity to solidify his reign and deliver a memorable performance in front of his home crowd. For Diego Lopes, it is a chance at redemption and an immediate shot at the title, capitalizing on his recent impressive showing. Meanwhile, the undefeated records of Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy continue to loom large in the featherweight division, with both fighters now facing the prospect of battling each other to stake their claim for future championship contention. The outcome of UFC 325 will undoubtedly shape the future of the 145-pound weight class, but the path to this particular title defense remains a subject of considerable debate.
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