UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 took place on January 31, 2026, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, delivering one of the strongest cards of the early 2026 UFC calendar.
Headlined by a featherweight title rematch, the event featured dominant performances, surprising finishes, and results that are already reshaping multiple divisions. From championship-level tactics to breakout moments, UFC 325 set the tone for the year ahead.
🏆 Main Event — Featherweight Championship
Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Diego Lopes
Result:
Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (50–45, 49–46, 49–46)
In front of his home crowd, Volkanovski delivered a masterclass in championship fighting. Using superior footwork, timing, and fight IQ, the champion neutralized Lopes’ explosiveness and controlled the pace across all five rounds.
Lopes showed toughness and moments of aggression, but Volkanovski’s consistency, defense, and strategic pressure left little doubt on the judges’ scorecards.
With this win, Volkanovski further cements his legacy as one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history.
💥 Main Card Results & Highlights
🥊 Benoît Saint-Denis vs. Dan Hooker
Result: Saint-Denis def. Hooker via TKO (Round 2)
Saint-Denis overwhelmed Hooker with relentless pressure, mixing strikes and grappling before securing a decisive stoppage.
🥊 Maurício Ruffy vs. Rafael Fiziev
Result: Ruffy def. Fiziev via TKO (Round 2)
One of the biggest shocks of the night. Ruffy landed clean and finished Fiziev in a fast-paced lightweight battle, instantly elevating his stock in the division.
🥊 Tallison Teixeira vs. Tai Tuivasa
Result: Teixeira def. Tuivasa via unanimous decision
Teixeira controlled distance and tempo, earning a disciplined victory over the fan-favorite heavyweight.
🥊 Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey
Result: Salkilld def. Mullarkey via submission (Round 1)
A quick and technical finish that showcased Salkilld’s grappling skills and efficiency.
🪪 Preliminary Card Results
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Billy Elekana def. Junior Tafa via submission (R2)
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Cam Rowston def. Cody Brundage via TKO (R2)
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Jacob Malkoun def. Torrez Finney via unanimous decision
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Jonathan Micallef def. Oban Elliott via submission (R2)
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Kaan Ofli def. Yizha via majority decision
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Sang Wook Kim def. Dom Mar Fan via unanimous decision
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Keiichiro Nakamura def. Sebastian Szalay via KO
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Lawrence Lui def. Sulangrangbo via split decision
The prelims delivered solid finishes and competitive matchups, highlighting several fighters to watch moving forward in 2026.
🔥 Performance Highlights of the Night
⭐ Alexander Volkanovski
A complete champion performance — tactical, composed, and dominant from start to finish.
💣 Maurício Ruffy
The breakout performance of the event. His TKO over Fiziev instantly places him on the lightweight radar.
⚔️ Benoît Saint-Denis
Proved once again that his pressure-heavy style can break elite-level opponents.
📊 Impact on the Divisions
🏆 Featherweight Division
Volkanovski remains firmly on top, with potential future challengers now lining up behind him. His reign looks far from over.
⚡ Lightweight Division
Ruffy’s win shakes up the division, while Saint-Denis continues his climb toward contender status.
🧱 Heavyweight Division
Tallison Teixeira’s disciplined win over Tuivasa reinforces him as a serious prospect in a volatile division.
🧠 What UFC 325 Means for 2026
UFC 325 wasn’t just another numbered event — it was a statement card:
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Champions reaffirmed their dominance
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New contenders emerged
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Multiple divisions gained clarity early in the year
If this event is any indication, 2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for the UFC.
UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 delivered high-level MMA from top to bottom.
From a dominant title defense to shocking finishes and breakout performances, the Sydney event set the competitive tone for the rest of the year.
Fans can expect the ripple effects of this card to be felt throughout the UFC in the months ahead.