The two main fighters at UFC 325 are narrowly split in fan votes.
The much-anticipated rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopez topped Saturday’s UFC event in Sydney, marking the only undisputed title fight scheduled in the first quarter of 2026. Just a week following UFC 324, the Octagon returns to Qudos Bank Arena where Volkanovski aims to defend his featherweight crown for the first time during this second reign.
Volkanovski, known as “Alexander the Great,” reclaimed the vacant featherweight title last April at UFC 314 in Miami by defeating Lopez. This outcome has left many eager to see the rivalry play out again, especially before the champion’s home crowd—a view shared by most Bloody Elbow readers.
While Diego Lopez won their first encounter, the upcoming rematch at UFC 325 raises the question: can he pull off another upset?
In a recent Bloody Elbow fan poll involving 1,162 participants predicting who will leave Australia as featherweight champion, Volkanovski secured 71.51% of the votes (831 votes), while Lopez garnered just 28.49% (331 votes). This suggests a challenging road ahead for Lopez despite his ability to inflict noticeable damage to Volkanovski’s leg during their first fight.
Interestingly, Bloody Elbow’s editorial staff predictions differ from the fan consensus, with three out of five writers favoring Lopez to avenge his loss by knockout.
Switching focus to the bantamweight division, fans are now invited to vote on who should get the next shot at Petr Yan’s title this year. Both Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley are contenders for this opportunity. Despite O’Malley’s recent defeats to Dvalishvili, his January 24th win over Song Yadong has fueled his belief that he deserves a rematch against the reigning champion.
Yan recently defeated Dvalishvili at UFC 323, ending the Georgian’s record-breaking title tenure. Yan remains confident that the next bout will enable him to solidify his hold on the bantamweight championship in what could become a defining trilogy with Dvalishvili.
Fan Take: This showdown between Volkanovski and Lopez is pivotal for the featherweight division, as it not only shapes the champion’s legacy but also electrifies the fan base by delivering intense, local drama. Meanwhile, the bantamweight title picture hints at a thrilling rivalry renewal, offering Fighting fans promising high-stakes bouts ahead that could elevate the sport’s competitive landscape.
