Alexander Volkanovski retains his UFC featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Diego Lopes in Australia.
Published On 1 Feb 2026
In front of a deafening Sydney crowd, Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski survived a fifth-round rally attempt from Diego Lopes to win yet another unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) in their rematch at UFC 325.
Just like their first meeting last April at UFC 314, Lopes (27-8 MMA, or mixed martial arts, 6-3 UFC) would not let Volkanovski (28-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) coast easily, as the first three rounds on Sunday saw Lopes take Volkanovski’s best shots and deliver some of his own. But Volkanovski retaliated with adjustments throughout, utilising the clinch to cut Lopes’s cage room off.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 items
- list 1 of 4Real look to bounce back from UCL woes as Vallecano arrive in La Liga
- list 2 of 4NBA issues 76ers’ Paul George with 25-game ban for drug violation
- list 3 of 4Milan protests decry ‘creeping fascism’ of ICE role at Winter Olympics
- list 4 of 4German football federation rules out World Cup boycott to oppose Trump
end of list
Volkanovski’s win was his first title defence during his second reign, ushering in a reinvigorated era at featherweight moving forward.
But for Volkanovski, winning his first fight in his home country in nearly three years with the full backing of the Australian crowd felt different.
“I didn’t want to stand [with Lopes] for 25 minutes, but we got the job done,” Volkanovski said.
Volkanovski said he was excited to get back in the Octagon soon, saying he would “see what’s next” with his team.
Lopes was humble in defeat, although he had a visible reaction to the one judge who ruled all five rounds in Volkanovski’s favour.
“I think Volkanovski is one of the best in the division and has been for this long,” the Brazilian competitor said.
Lopes called this part of the journey “step-