Alexander Volkanovski is set to return to Australia this Saturday to defend his UFC featherweight championship once again.
At UFC 325’s main event, “The Great” will make the first defense of his second featherweight title by facing Diego Lopez. The pair last met nine months ago in the UFC 314 headliner, where Volkanovski clearly dominated the Brazilian fighter. This repeat matchup has drawn criticism from many UFC fans who question the pairing for his return to Sydney.
A fan poll asks: who will win the UFC 325 main event rematch, Volkanovski or Lopez?
Despite some doubters—especially after recent knockout losses by Islam Makhachev and Ilya Topuria—Volkanovski aims to cement his legacy as the greatest featherweight ever, potentially surpassing Jose Aldo. Yet, the 37-year-old Australian admitted that defeating Lopez again might not significantly add to his legacy. Originally, Volkanovski had hoped to defend his belt against undefeated contenders Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy. “For legacy reasons, some fans wanted to see me fight an undefeated challenger like Mohsah,” Volkanovski explained to ESPN Australia. “But there will always be people just excited to see me fight—in Sydney especially. Still, from a legacy viewpoint, a rematch with someone I recently beat probably doesn’t add much.”
In other related news, UFC president Dana White has addressed criticism over UFC 325’s matchmaking decisions, encouraging fans to voice their opinions. Meanwhile, the featherweight division could see a shakeup: lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan expressed interest in dropping down to featherweight for a title shot. This move is notable as Tsarukyan previously cut weight last year in preparation for a lightweight title fight, showcasing the challenges and potential disadvantages involved in such a transition.
Fan Take: This matchup highlights ongoing debates around UFC matchmaking, balancing legacy-building fights against exciting rematches. For fight fans, the potential entrance of Arman Tsarukyan into featherweight adds intrigue and could reshape division dynamics, signaling fresh challenges in a competitive era for the sport.
