Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes capped off UFC 325, facing off in a main event that was a rematch of their UFC 314 encounter.
Volkanovski came away with the win that night in Miami. He also came away with the UFC’s featherweight championship for the second time in his career. Saturday at UFC 325 marks his first title defense since then, while Lopes has fought once in between, defeating Jean Silva at last September’s Noche UFC.
The pairing comes while other contenders including Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy sit waiting. Silva, meanwhile, got back in the win column last week.
Volkanovski has an interesting field of options ahead of him should he win on Saturday. One would be to simply retire, at home in Australia. Volk is one of the rare older champs in the lighter weight classes, and at 37, one way or another, his run is coming to an end.
If he choses to fight on, should he defeat Lopes a second time, there’s the obvious choices of Murphy or Evloev, which is the obvious next step. Then Silva or Yair Rodriguez, perhaps, should either manage to pick up another high-profile win.
Or… just hear us out… there’s a chance Volkanovski chases Ilia Topuria, who defeated him for featherweight gold, going after a lightweight title one last time.
Even trying that would be remarkable, but Alexander Volkanovski has always been just that: remarkable.
Should Lopes win? Well, featherweight would be wide open.
Following Saturday’s UFC 325, tune in for the event’s post-fight press conference. Dana White stayed home for this one, but the main card winners will be on hand. Check it out above.
