Ali Akbar Rosady
Sydney, Australia – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park this Saturday, January 31, for UFC 325, featuring a highly anticipated featherweight championship rematch between reigning champion Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski and second-ranked contender Diego Lopes. The event is set to commence with preliminary bouts at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at approximately 9 p.m. ET, exclusively broadcast on Paramount+. This card marks a significant moment for the featherweight division and features several other pivotal matchups across various weight classes, with seasoned MMA analyst Kyle Marley providing his expert predictions and betting insights for SportsLine members.
The main event pits Australia’s own Alexander Volkanovski, a two-time featherweight division champion, against Brazil’s rising star Diego Lopes in a contest for the coveted 145-pound title. This bout serves as a direct sequel to their memorable encounter at UFC 314 last April, where Volkanovski secured a unanimous decision victory over Lopes to claim the then-vacant UFC featherweight championship. That initial clash was lauded for its intensity and technical prowess, earning "Fight of the Night" honors, setting a high bar for this eagerly awaited second installment.
Current betting odds from DraftKings Sportsbook position Alexander Volkanovski as a moderate favorite at -148, requiring a $148 wager to yield a $100 profit. Diego Lopes, meanwhile, enters as the underdog with odds of +124, meaning a $100 bet on the challenger could return $124. These odds reflect the competitive nature of their previous meeting and the perceived growth of Lopes since their last encounter.
Alexander Volkanovski, at 37 years old, brings an impressive professional mixed martial arts record of 27 wins and 4 losses. His victories include 13 knockouts, three submissions, and 11 decisions, showcasing his well-rounded offensive capabilities. Prior to his illustrious MMA career, Volkanovski also competed as a professional boxer, securing a unanimous decision win in his sole professional boxing match against Dillon Bargero in April 2015. He currently holds the No. 5 position in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, a testament to his dominance across weight classes. Volkanovski holds the distinction of being the first Australian-born fighter to win a UFC title and, at 36 years and 195 days old at the time of his initial featherweight championship win, he is the oldest fighter in history to claim that specific title. His exceptional performances have earned him recognition, including being named Australian MMA’s 2025 Male Next Level Fighter of the Year, highlighting his consistent evolution and impact on the sport. Despite his veteran status, Volkanovski remains a formidable force, known for his relentless pace, powerful striking, and strong wrestling base. His recent performances have continued to solidify his legacy, although the competitive nature of the featherweight division ensures no fight is a foregone conclusion.
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Across the Octagon, 31-year-old Diego Lopes presents a significant challenge with a professional record of 27 wins and 7 losses. Lopes’s career, which began in 2012 in Manaus, Brazil, has seen him compete across various promotions, including Mexico’s LUX Fight League, before earning his shot at the UFC. His journey to the premier organization included an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series 37 in 2021, where despite a loss to Joanderson Brito, his potential was recognized, leading to a UFC contract. Lopes made his promotional debut at UFC 288, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Movsar Evloev, yet still managed to earn "Fight of the Night" honors for his valiant effort. Since that debut, Lopes has demonstrated remarkable resilience and improvement, securing six wins in his subsequent seven fights. His record boasts 11 victories by knockout, 12 by submission, and four by decision, indicating a dangerous and opportunistic fighter capable of finishing bouts in multiple ways. Lopes’s grappling prowess, combined with an increasingly refined striking game, makes him a threat to any opponent in the division, particularly in a rematch where adjustments are paramount.
The narrative of Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 is steeped in the dynamics of a champion seeking to re-affirm his dominance against a hungry contender who has proven he can push the champion to his limits. For Volkanovski, this rematch is an opportunity to showcase his tactical superiority and solidify his reign. For Lopes, it represents a chance at redemption and the ultimate prize, having already experienced the champion’s strengths and weaknesses firsthand. Both fighters will undoubtedly have made significant adjustments in their training camps, promising an even more strategic and explosive contest than their initial meeting.
In the co-main event, a high-stakes lightweight clash features sixth-ranked Dan "The Hangman" Hooker against eighth-ranked Benoit "God of War" Saint Denis. Hooker, known for his exciting fights and durable striking, enters the bout as a considerable underdog at +295, while the aggressive and powerful Saint Denis is favored at -375. This matchup has the potential to be a Fight of the Night contender itself, given both fighters’ propensity for engaging, high-octane battles. A victory for either man would significantly impact their standing in the highly competitive lightweight division.
The UFC 325 main card also includes several other intriguing matchups:
- Lightweight Bout: Rafael Fiziev (-122) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (+102). Fiziev, celebrated for his dynamic striking and Muay Thai background, faces Ruffy, an emerging talent looking to make a statement against a ranked opponent.
- Heavyweight Bout: Tai "Bam Bam" Tuivasa (+260) vs. Tallison Teixeira (-325). Tuivasa, a fan favorite known for his devastating knockout power and post-fight "shoey" celebration, aims to bounce back against the formidable Teixeira.
- Featherweight Bout: Quillan Salkilld (-1000) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (+676). This bout features one of the most significant betting disparities on the card, with the heavily favored Salkilld facing the resilient Mullarkey, who will be looking to upset the odds.
For bettors and enthusiasts seeking an edge, SportsLine expert Kyle Marley has meticulously analyzed the entire UFC 325 card. Over the past three years, $100 bettors who have followed Marley’s picks have seen returns approaching $10,000, and since May 2018, his advice has generated over $21,000 in profits. His impressive track record includes correctly predicting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC’s pandemic-induced pause, and a strong 7-4 record on his picks for the most recent UFC event.
Marley has revealed specific insights for several bouts, including his pick for the preliminary card matchup between Billy Elekana (-258) and Junior Tafa. Marley favors Elekana to win via decision, stating, "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. 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 comprehensive analysis extends to all fights, including his prediction for Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 and a confident endorsement of another fighter he identifies as "the better overall fighter" to secure a significant victory.
UFC 325 marks a significant shift in how fans can access premium UFC content. The event is available for streaming live on Paramount+, signifying a move away from traditional Pay-Per-View models for numbered events and Fight Nights. Subscribers to Paramount+ can now watch every UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night live at no additional cost, along with access to pre-fight docuseries, full-length replays, and an archive of past fights. This initiative aims to make UFC content more accessible to a broader audience. Additionally, new users to DraftKings Sportsbook can claim $300 in bonus bets with a winning $5 wager, while bet365 offers $200 in bonus bets after placing a $5 bet, providing incentives for those looking to engage with the betting aspects of the event.
As UFC 325 approaches, all eyes will be on Sydney for what promises to be a thrilling night of mixed martial arts action, headlined by a pivotal featherweight title rematch that could shape the division’s future. For those seeking detailed predictions and betting strategies, Kyle Marley’s expert analysis offers an informed perspective on the Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 showdown and the entire card.
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