UFC 325: Volkanovski and Lopes Prepare for Featherweight Title Rematch in Sydney Showdown

Sydney, Australia – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to host UFC 325 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, Australia, on Saturday, with a highly anticipated featherweight championship rematch headlining the event. Champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his title against the second-ranked contender, Diego Lopes, in a pivotal main event. Preliminary bouts are scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. ET, leading into the main card, which is expected to begin around 9 p.m. ET, available for streaming on Paramount+.

This upcoming clash marks the second encounter between Volkanovski and Lopes within a year. Their initial meeting at UFC 314 last April saw Volkanovski secure a unanimous decision victory, claiming the vacant UFC featherweight championship. The bout was widely praised for its intensity and competitive nature, ultimately earning "Fight of the Night" honors, underscoring the justification for this immediate rematch.

Current betting lines from DraftKings Sportsbook position Alexander Volkanovski as a -148 favorite, meaning a bet of $148 is required to win $100. Conversely, Diego Lopes enters as the +124 underdog, with a $100 wager on Lopes yielding a $124 profit if he emerges victorious. These odds reflect a perceived advantage for the reigning champion, yet acknowledge Lopes’s demonstrated capability to push Volkanovski to his limits in their previous outing.

The co-main event features a lightweight contest between sixth-ranked Dan Hooker and eighth-ranked Benoit Saint Denis. Saint Denis is favored at -375, while Hooker is listed at +295, indicating a significant belief in Saint Denis’s prospects in this matchup. For those considering wagers on UFC 325, expert analysis and predictions from seasoned MMA analyst Kyle Marley are available through SportsLine.

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Marley has established a robust track record over the past three-plus years, with $100 bettors who have followed his selections accumulating nearly $10,000 in profits. Since May 2018, his total returns exceed $21,000. His consistent success includes accurately predicting five consecutive main-event underdog winners in 2020 following the UFC’s brief hiatus due to the global pandemic. Marley’s most recent performance saw him achieve a 7-4 record on his picks for the last UFC card, demonstrating his ongoing acumen in the sport’s betting landscape. His detailed breakdowns for Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 and other matchups are highly sought after by bettors.

For new users interested in engaging with the betting markets, DraftKings Sportsbook is offering $300 in bonus bets upon placing a winning $5 wager on UFC 325. Similarly, new users can also leverage a bet365 bonus code to receive $200 in bonus bets after making an initial $5 bet.

UFC Broadcast Shift to Paramount+

In a significant shift for fight fans, UFC numbered events and UFC Fight Night cards are now exclusively available live on Paramount+, eliminating the traditional Pay-Per-View model for these events. Subscribers to Paramount+ gain access to every live UFC event, alongside a comprehensive library of pre-fight docuseries, full-length fight replays, and archived fights from past years, all at no additional cost beyond the subscription fee. This move aims to make UFC content more accessible to a broader audience.

Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2: Fighter Profiles and Context

Alexander Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC)
At 37 years old, Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski has solidified his status as one of the most dominant featherweight champions in UFC history. A two-time titleholder in the division, he stands at No. 5 in the official UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. Notably, Volkanovski holds the distinction of being the first Australian-born fighter to claim a UFC championship. His professional combat sports journey also includes a brief stint in professional boxing, where he secured a unanimous decision victory in his sole bout in April 2015.

Volkanovski’s comprehensive fighting record of 27 wins and 4 losses showcases his versatility, with 13 victories coming by knockout, 3 by submission, and 11 by decision. His four professional losses include three by knockout and one by decision, with two of his most recent defeats occurring in his pursuit of the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev. These attempts highlight his ambition to compete in multiple weight classes, even as he maintains a firm grip on the featherweight division. His previous title win at UFC 314, at 36 years and 195 days, made him the oldest fighter in history to win the UFC featherweight championship. He was also reportedly awarded the Australian MMA Male Next Level Fighter of the Year for 2023, though the provided text erroneously listed 2025. Volkanovski is renowned for his exceptional fight IQ, technical striking, formidable defense, and relentless pressure, making him a perennial threat in the octagon.

Diego Lopes (27-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC)
Diego Lopes, 31, embarked on his professional mixed martial arts career in 2012 in Manaus, Brazil. His path to the UFC involved competing across various promotions, including stints in Mexico and the LUX Fight League, which he joined in October 2018. Lopes gained significant attention during Dana White’s Contender Series 37 in 2021. Despite suffering a loss to Joanderson Brito, his impressive performance ultimately led to his signing by the UFC.

Lopes made his UFC debut at UFC 288, where he lost to Movsar Evloev by unanimous decision, yet earned "Fight of the Night" honors for his valiant effort. Since that debut, Lopes has demonstrated significant growth, winning six of his last seven fights leading up to his first encounter with Volkanovski at UFC 314. His overall professional record stands at 27 wins and 7 losses, with a balanced finish rate of 11 knockouts, 12 submissions, and 4 decisions. Lopes is recognized for his aggressive, high-paced style, possessing dangerous submission skills and considerable power in his striking. His performance against Volkanovski at UFC 314, where he pushed the champion through five rounds and earned post-fight accolades, solidified his position as a legitimate threat and earned him this immediate rematch opportunity.

Expert Predictions and Undercard Highlights

Kyle Marley, the SportsLine expert, has provided a specific prediction for one of the undercard bouts: he is backing Billy Elekana (-258) to defeat Junior Tafa via decision. Marley’s rationale centers on Elekana’s potential to dominate with wrestling, given Tafa’s perceived weaknesses on the ground. While acknowledging Elekana’s ability to compete in a striking match, Marley suggests that a grappling-heavy approach would minimize risk for Elekana, making a decision victory the most probable outcome.

Beyond the main and co-main events, the UFC 325 card features several other intriguing matchups. These include Rafael Fiziev (-122) facing Mauricio Ruffy (+102) in a lightweight bout that promises striking exchanges. Heavyweights Tai Tuivasa (+260) and Tallison Teixeira (-325) are also set to collide, with Teixeira entering as a significant favorite. Additionally, a substantial betting line highlights the featherweight contest between Quillan Salkilld (-1000) and Jamie Mullarkey (+676), indicating a strong expectation for Salkilld to emerge victorious.

Marley’s complete set of predictions for Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 and every other fight on the UFC 325 card is available for those seeking further insights. He is also reportedly backing a fighter whom he identifies as "the better overall fighter" to secure a significant victory on the card.

UFC 325 Main Fight Card Odds (as of reporting, subject to change):

Alexander Volkanovski (-148) vs. Diego Lopes (+124)
Dan Hooker (+295) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (-375)
Rafael Fiziev (-122) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (+102)
Tai Tuivasa (+260) vs. Tallison Teixeira (-325)
Quillan Salkilld (-1000) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (+676)

For comprehensive betting picks and detailed analysis from the expert who has generated over $21,000 in profits on UFC picks since May 2018, fans and bettors are encouraged to visit SportsLine.

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