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Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 Preview & Picks – Volkanovski To Retain At UFC 325
- Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 picks for Saturday, January 31
- UFC 325 is taking place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia
- Preview, predictions, stats & form
Alexander Volkanovski (Getty Images)
- Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 Preview & Picks
- Head To Head
- Alexander Volkanovski Form
- Diego Lopes Form
Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 Preview & Picks
Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 Preview & Picks
Alexander Volkanovski is tipped to retain the featherweight title by decision.
Volkanovski is the more efficient and effective striker, as evidenced in the first fight, and he can outpoint Diego Lopes over five rounds once again.
- Alexander Volkanovski beat Diego Lopes by decision last year
- 6 of Alexander Volkanovski’s last 8 victories have been on points
- 5 of Diego Lopes’ 7 career defeats have been by decision
Head To Head
- Alexander Volkanovski won by unanimous decision when the two men fought in April 2025
Alexander Volkanovski Form
Alexander Volkanovski is a two-time UFC featherweight champion with a professional record of 27-4 (13 KOs, 3 Subs).
Volkanovski joined the UFC in 2016 following a successful run on the Australian domestic scene, and he quickly climbed the ladder with a string of victories.
His first notable success came in December 2018 when he knocked out Chad Mendes in the second round, and he then backed that up with a unanimous decision win over the legendary Jose Aldo to secure a featherweight title fight.
The 37-year-old Australian took his big chance in December 2019 as he beat Max Holloway on points, and when the pair met in a rematch several months later he won via decision again.
Volkanovski then out-pointed Brian Ortega and knocked out Chang-Sung Jung in the fourth round to retain the title, before besting Holloway again in their trilogy fight, again winning on points.
‘The Great’ moved up to lightweight following that victory in an attempt to become a two-weight world champion, but his bid ended in failure as he dropped a decision to Islam Makhachev in February 2023.
He rebounded with a successful defence of his featherweight crown, beating Yair Rodriguez via third-round knockout, before again coming up short at lightweight as he was knocked out in the first round by champion Islam Makhachev.
Volkanovski then lost his featherweight crown as he was knocked out in the second, round by Ilia Topuria, only to regain the vacant title last April as he beat Diego Lopes on points.
Diego Lopes Form
Diego Lopes is the number two ranked featherweight contender with a career record of 27-7 (11 KOs, 12 Subs).
Lopes rebounded from a failed appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2021 to finally land a UFC deal in May 2023.
He made a disappointing debut, losing to Movsar Evloev via decision, but he rebounded over the next 14 months as he reeled off five consecutive wins to climb the ladder.
The 31-year-old Brazilian submitted Gavin Tucker and knocked out Pat Sabatini and Sodiq Yusuff in the first round, before out-pointing Dan Ige and Brian Ortega over three rounds.
Those victories earned Lopes as a shot at the featherweight title in April of last year, but he was unable to complete his rise to the summit.
He suffered his second defeat inside the UFC Octagon, as he was beaten on points by Alexander Volkanovski.
Lopes put that behind him last September though, as he returned to winning ways with a second-round knockout of Jean Silva.
Verdict
Diego Lopes had his moments in the first fight, but Alexander Volkanovski was the more clinical striker.
We expect more of the same in the rematch as ‘The Great’ stays out of trouble and retains the title on points.
We expect more of the same in the rematch as ‘The Great’ stays out of trouble and retains the title on points.
Volkanovski by Dec
Method Of Victory
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