Volkanovski Defends Featherweight Title at UFC 325; Evloev Secures Contender Spot at UFC London

UFC Featherweight Championship: Volkanovski Defends Title, Evloev Emerges as Top Contender

Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his UFC featherweight championship against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia, on February 1, 2026, securing a unanimous decision victory. This win came despite Volkanovski having sustained a serious shoulder injury approximately one month prior to the event. Meanwhile, Movsar Evloev solidified his position as a leading contender for the featherweight title by defeating Lerone Murphy via majority decision at UFC London on March 22, in a bout widely considered a title eliminator.

UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes Rematch

The main event of UFC 325 in Sydney featured a highly anticipated rematch between UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Diego Lopes. Volkanovski, aged 37, successfully retained his title, securing a unanimous decision victory with scorecards of 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45. This marked his second consecutive win over Lopes within a 10-month period and his eighth UFC featherweight title fight victory. Following the event, Volkanovski received a US$100,000 Fight of the Night bonus.

Volkanovski’s head coach, Joe Lopez, revealed after the fight that the champion had sustained a serious shoulder injury four weeks before the event, with withdrawal being a significant consideration. Volkanovski made weight at 65.54kg, while Lopes weighed in at 65.77kg.

Pre-fight discussions saw MMA analyst Dan Hardy describe the rematch as an "unnecessary risk" for Volkanovski, suggesting Lopes had gained insights from their first encounter. Conversely, Volkanovski's training partner, Jamie Mullarkey, dismissed retirement rumors and expressed confidence in Volkanovski's training camp performance. Volkanovski himself assessed Lopes as "dangerous" but reliant on a limited strategic approach. Lopes, who had previously faced Volkanovski at UFC 314, earned the rematch by defeating Jean Silva via spinning back elbow. Expert opinions on the featherweight title fight were divided, with some predicting a Volkanovski decision and others forecasting a Lopes TKO or knockout.

Following the bout, Diego Lopes was transported to a Sydney hospital, where tests confirmed fractures in both feet. He is expected to use boots and crutches for several weeks, though surgery is not required.

Featherweight Contender Landscape

Post-UFC 325, Volkanovski identified Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy as primary contenders for his next title defense. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier stated that Volkanovski has solidified his position as the greatest UFC featherweight, surpassing Jose Aldo.

Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, both undefeated, headlined UFC London on March 22 at the O2 Arena. The bout was widely anticipated as a title eliminator. Evloev, with a professional record of 19-0, and Murphy, holding a record of 17-0-1, both successfully made weight for their non-title featherweight contest.

Evloev defeated Murphy by majority decision, with scorecards of 48-46, 48-46, and 47-47. Evloev controlled the early rounds with striking and incorporated grappling, securing takedowns. A point was deducted from Evloev in the fourth round for a second accidental groin kick. Murphy later indicated a hip injury to his corner during and after the fight. Following his victory, Evloev requested a title shot against Volkanovski, who subsequently confirmed his intention to fight Evloev next, noting his "impressive" performance and expressing a preference for a fight in July or August.

Another featherweight contender, Jean Silva, publicly challenged Volkanovski for a title shot, citing his UFC record and expressing a desire to prevent Volkanovski from surpassing Jose Aldo's record for featherweight title wins. Silva stated his intention to train with former Volkanovski opponent Ilia Topuria in preparation for a potential matchup and met with UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell to convey his championship aspirations.

Event Highlights & Broader UFC News

The UFC 325 ceremonial weigh-ins in Sydney included a confrontation between undercard fighters Oban Elliott and Jono Micallef, requiring intervention by matchmaker Mick Maynard. Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa received a strong reception from the Sydney audience.

On the UFC London card, Australian heavyweight Brandon Pericic defeated England's Louie Sutherland by first-round knockout, his second consecutive first-round finish in the UFC. In the co-main event, Luke Riley secured a unanimous decision victory over Michael Aswell. The bantamweight bout between Luana Carolina and Melissa Mullins was canceled due to Carolina missing weight by eight pounds, marking her third weight miss in the UFC.

Alexander Volkanovski, at 37, addressed ongoing discussions about his future, stating he is not rushing retirement and plans for a quick turnaround. He has been actively involved in media commitments, including commercial filming and content creation for his YouTube channel, and is reportedly negotiating an upgraded UFC contract worth over $5 million annually.

UFC 326, featuring a rematch between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, faced criticism from commentator Dan Hardy regarding its overall card depth. Separately, Jon Jones stated that he was offered $15 million for a potential fight against Alex Pereira on a White House card but considered the offer insufficient.