The UFC’s second event of 2026, UFC 325, transpired on Saturday— the promotion’s sophomore show on their new home network of Paramount+.
In the main event, a rematch between the featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski and challenger, Diego Lopes. In the co-main event, top ranked lightweights, Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint-Denis, thoroughly entertained the crowd in a spirited scrap. This 13-fight card also featured three Road to UFC 4 tournament finales on the early prelims. The five-fight main card proved entertaining with three finishes and the Fight of the Night. A few ranked fighters and an unranked fighter to matchup on this edition of Losers matchmaker.
Diego Lopes
Alexander Volkanovski braved a couple flash-knockdowns and ultimately put on a clinic against Diego Lopes on the way to a unanimous decision victory. Diego had just fought Volk in April of 2025 following a win over Brian Ortega. Lopes triggered a rematch with his spectacular second round finish of the streaking Jean Silva in September. Diego is now 6-3 with the UFC with his other loss coming to Movsar Evloev in 2023. An important factor to consider for Diego’s next fight is that he will be on the shelf for a while. Lopes limped out of the octagon heavily helped by his coaches and first reports following the bout reveal Diego may have broken both feet.
With that in mind, Diego’s next fight should be against Aljamain Sterling. Aljamain is ranked at #5 but he last fought in August 2025 and defeated Brian Ortega. So, timing could potentially be a bit of an issue. But Sterling also dropped a unanimous decision against Evolev, and is the former UFC bantamweight champ. It’d be a great fight to get Diego reestablished within the division after losing twice to the champ. Depending how long Lopes is out, it may or may not make sense.
Lopes’s next fight: Aljamain Sterling
Dan Hooker
Benoit Saint-Denis outpaced and melted Dan Hooker in the co main event of UFC 325 on Saturday. #8 ranked BSD, ended up scoring a late second round TKO as his pace proved just too much for the #6 ranked lightweight. Hooker falls to 14-10 in the UFC and is now on a 2-fight skid following a 3-fight win streak.
Rough outcome for Hooker here as all of his momentum has just been whisked away by that beating BSD put on him. Hooker had the bones of a good pre-fight build-up with the promotion’s new golden boy, Paddy Pimblett. The two had been exchanging shots on social media for some time and Pimblett just dropped his chance at the Interim Lightweight strap at UFC 324 just a week prior. Tough luck, as there was definitely a scenario where Hooker lost to BSD but could still draw Paddy (see UFC 324 Losers). Instead, Hooker should look to take on another fighter that suffered a finish loss Saturday, Rafael Fiziev. Rafael is ranked at #9 and the two could easily headline a fight night card. If a fight like that goes the distance, it’d likely be a fight of the year candidate.
Hooker’s next fight: Rafael Fiziev
Rafael Fiziev
Mauricio Ruffy’s rangy dynamic striking ruled supreme against Rafael Fiziev on Saturday. Ruffy wobbled and mercilessly finished Fiziev late in the second round to earn a performance bonus. The loss marks only the second time that Rafael has been stopped via strikes within his professional MMA career. Fiziev is now 7-5 in the UFC and has lost four of his last five fights. Two decisions to Justin Gaethje, a knee injury in his fight with Mateusz Gamrot and the result on Saturday against Ruffy. Fiziev’s only win the 5-fight stretch came thwarting a young, hungry, Ignacio Bahamondes, in June of last year. A very legitimate victory proving he is in that elite (top 10) echelon.
Rafael was slated to take on a #3 ranked, Charles Oliveria, following that win but suffered an injury, forcing the bout to be cancelled. Big opportunity missed there as Charles has now drawn Max Holloway later this year- and then the outcome for Rafael on Saturday against the #14 ranked lightweight.
With all this in mind, Fiziev’s next fight should be against Dan Hooker. Timing would match up and both guys are now in very similar positions, tested, early to mid-thirties, strikers, fan favorites and in desperate need of an ‘elite’ win. Both were finished in a similar amount of time so maybe recovery lengths will be similar as well.
Fiziev’s next fight: Dan Hooker
Tai Tuivasa
Tallison Teixiera weathered several thunderous rallies from an exhausted Tai Tuivasa on the way to unanimous decision victory on Saturday. Tuivasa had not fought since August of 2024. Tai’s losing streak grows to six with the heavyweight fighter now boasting a UFC record of 8-9. This is a very tough spot for “Bam Bam” to be in especially coming of an extended hiatus, there were multiple points during the fight where his gas tank was an issue.
Tai’s quite possibly too popular for an axe from the promotion. But make no mistake, the situation is currently dire for Tai. Two more losses, max, and he’s likely released.
The next bout for Tai should be against Ryan Spann. Spann has a similar story/trajectory as Tuivasa, though he is 36 instead of 32. Spann is 9-6 with the UFC and an early Contender Series veteran. Ryan, a long-time light heavyweight, moved up to heavyweight in 2025 and 1-1 since the move. Spann was finished in the second round by a red-hot Waldo Cores-Acosta last year (who went 4-1 in 2025). Spann submitted Lukasz Brzeski in the first round of the pair’s bout in July but withdrew from his upcoming fight against Rizivan Kuniev on February 7th.
Excellent matchup to target here as Spann is well known but isn’t ranked within the division. Heavyweight always has been (and will be) shallow, so Ryan isn’t far from having a number next to his name. This fight has feature prelim written all over it with the winner drawing a ranked fighter.
Tuivasa’s next fight: Ryan Spann
Jamie Mullarkey
Quillan Salkilld made quick work of Jamie Mullarkey, submitting him in the first round to kick off UFC 325’s main card on Saturday. The rear naked choke earned Quillan Salkilld a performance bonus. Mullarkey wasn’t even the original opponent, but filled in on short notice after the original, Rongzhu, withdrew. Mullarkey valiantly answered the call against a 26-year-old, 11-1 fighter, who is 4-0 with the UFC. 31-year-old Mullarkey is now 2-4 in his last six fights. Jamie has taken on some real fighters with his losses coming to Muhammad Naimov, Nasrat Haqparast and Mauricio Ruffy in that stretch.
Mullarkey’s next fight should be against Jai Herbert. Jai was last in action agaisnt Chris Padilla in March of 2025, dropping a split decision. Herbert hasn’t fought since then and is 2-3-1 in his last six bouts. Very similar to Mullarkey, he’s faced stiff competition in the span, losing to now lightweight champ. Illia Topuria, Fares Ziam and his majority draw coming against L’udovit Klein. Solid matchup here, tough-nosed, just-outside the ranking’s fighters- 6-7 with the promotion vs. 3-5-1.
Mullarkey’s next fight: Jai Herbert or Drew Dober
