The UFC is set to return to Sydney, Australia this February, and it’s bringing one of Australia’s biggest stars with them.
Alexander Volkanovski (27-4) will face off against Diego Lopes (27-7) for a second time in the main event of UFC 325, set for February 1, 2026 in Sydney, Australia (that’s January 31 for much of the world). UFC officials announced the date on Thursday, with promotion CEO and President Dana White revealing the main event alongside a number of UFC 324 match-ups.
Volkanovski and Lopes first met earlier this year, vying for the title vacated by Ilia Topuria when he opted to move up to lightweight. The Australian won the bout at UFC 315 by unanimous decision, reclaiming his featherweight title in the process.
In his first championship reign, Volkanovski defended the UFC featherweight championship five times, defeating the likes of Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, and Yair Rodriguez in the process. A couple of failed attempts at winning Islam Makhachev’s lightweight title were mixed into that run, before Volkanovski was knocked out by Topuria, losing his 145lb strap.
Lopes bounced back from his loss to Volkanovski by defeating Jean “Lord” Silva at Noche UFC in September, earning a Performance of the Night bonus as well as Fight of the Night for the spinning back elbow TKO finish.
The UFC 325 main event may come as something of a gut punch for Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, both of whom had earned recognition as viable contenders in the division.
