On the prelims, Jonathan Micallef, Cam Rowston and Billy Elekana scored nice finishes. While on the main card, finishes from Quillan Salkilld, Mauricio Ruffy and Benoit Saint Denis were followed by yet another 25-minute masterclass from the all-time great Alexander Volkanovski. With UFC 325 now in the books, let’s look at what’s next for our main card winners.

Alexander Volkanovski

As easy as it would be to look at this title defence as a waste of time, there’s something to be said about a 37-year-old Alexander Volkanovski giving still a young, hungry contender in his prime a second crack at him and still blanking him. I loved hearing what Volkanovski had to say about his responsibility as a champion to face the most deserving contenders. It was a respectful way to call out the UFC on their matchmaking practices. The UFC then wasted no time announcing Movsar Evloev versus Lerone Murphy as the headliner to the London Fight Night card in March. They are already both deserving; there’s no question that the winner should fight for the belt next.

Volkanovski’s next fight: Evloev/Murphy winner

Benoit Saint Denis

He may not be a perfect fighter and who’s to say how he would fare against the very top of the division, but one thing that Benoit Saint Denis’ harshest critics could never accuse him of is being boring. He walks into chaos, but he loves it and often comes out on the winning side. He’s also very active as this was his third bout in five months. I don’t think someone with the nickname “God of War” can be seen as a bad option to challenge for the BMF title.

Saint Denis’ next fight: Oliveira/Holloway 2 winner

Mauricio Ruffy

Learning about the tough circumstances he had to overcome coming into this fight made this performance look even better for Mauricio Ruffy. After laying an egg in Paris last September, Ruffy was given a different kind of task, but a difficult one, nonetheless.

It took him a little while to get his offense going, but once he did, he had Rafael Fiziev figured out. He looked like a Sean O’Malley-type sniper, consistently tagging Fiziev with long range shots on his way to a second round TKO. The poise with which he finished Fiziev after hurting him made him look like a killer. There are a lot of directions the promotion could go with Ruffy, and I think he deserves a big name next. The loser of the BMF title bout could make a fun fight.

Ruffy’s next fight: Oliveira/Holloway loser

Tallison Teixeira

It wasn’t exactly the most redemptive performance, but at 26 years old, Tallison Teixeira got back in the win column and that’s what ultimately matters in the long-term. The heavyweight division is in such bad need of any kind of new blood that this win for Teixeira can at least push a young name up the rankings. I think someone like the loser of the upcoming Serghei Spivac versus Ante Delija bout makes sense as a next step for the young Xicão.

Teixeira’s next fight: Spivac/Delija loser

Quillan Salkilld

Yes, it was a showcase fight, and he came in as a -1200 betting favourite, but Quillan Salkilld did what he supposed to do. He made short work of a 12-fight UFC veteran who’s been around the block. Sometimes young prospects are put in a showcase position, and they don’t deliver, but Salkilld oozes confidence and passed this test with flying colours. He just turned 26 and he’s in a shark tank of a division, so I see no point in rushing him. I think rebooking the fight against fellow prospect, Rongzhu, is the way to go.

Salkilld’s next fight: Rongzhu

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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

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In the first title defense of his second reign, a rematch with Diego Lopes, the Australian featherweight rarely looked to be in any trouble. He deftly switched stances, was rarely there to be hit, and was a step ahead the Brazilian from bell to bell, save for a single flash knockdown in the lone round anyone scored for Lopes.

At 37, Volkanovski is long in the tooth for the lighter weight classes, where athletes tend to fall off a cliff after age 35. He’s proven to be the outlier, however, and now has a world of options ahead of him: Movsar Evloev, Lerone Murphy, Jean Silva, or even jumping up and chasing Ilia Topuria at lightweight.

He also has an extra $100,000 following UFC 325. So too does Diego Lopes, as the pair were awarded Fight of the Night at the event. For Volkanovski, that marks his fifth Fight of the Night bonus throughout his UFC tenure.

Performance of the Night bonuses at UFC 325 went to Mauricio Ruffy and Quillan Salkilld. Ruffy, who had been struggling against Rafael Fiziev early, put away the dangerous striker in the second round, dropping him then swarming.

Australia’s Salkilld submitted countryman Jamie Mullarkey with a neck crank to open Saturday’s main card.

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Volkanovski, the UFC’s featherweight champion, had reclaimed his title last year in the pair’s first encounter. That had come after Ilia Topuria dethroned the Australian, then vacated his title and moved to lightweight.

While Volkanovski hadn’t fought since the win over Lopes, Diego himself had bounced back with a finish of Jean Silva at Noche UFC in September to secure another shot at gold.

There was no bad blood in the build-up to this one, just two fighters at the top of their games facing off. They touched gloves to start, Lopes bouncing on his heels.

The first action in the UFC 325 main event, at least of any significance, was a Lopes body kick about a minute in. Even that seemed to have a light touch. Champ Volkanovski was changing stances often, keeping Lopes guessing. He shot in on a takedown, but Lopes easily pushed that off. The pair traded leg kicks, and Volkanovski went to the body. A lot of what was being thrown in the first several minutes, however, was missing. A few short exchanges saw both fighters land, but neither did much damage.

Evenly matched on the feet early on at least, Alexander Volkanovski opted to pursue a takedown again. Lopes was able to stay upright, back to the fence. The champ mixed in a few punches up top, and another off the break. Lopes would land a right hand in the final minute, but Volkanovski came right back with a solid shot of his own.

After a very close round one, the second of a possible five rounds saw Volkanovski again changing stances. Lopes closed the distance, and Volk fired a leg kick. He’d keep touching Lopes with those leg kicks, and while not all of them were super heavy, in a close fight, every strike mattered. The pair then traded harder kicks, while Volkanovski circled. Lopes closed the distance and hit the body, but couldn’t follow up. More kick exchanges, with Lopes getting the better of at least one. He then crashed forward, firing an uppercut, but Volkanovski landed in response. Lopes then landed a counter. A right hand by the champ came next, getting an immediate response from the ground.

In the final minute, Lopes closed for a takedown, and Volkanovski defensed with a guillotine. He jumped right into it, with 35 seconds on the clock still! He didn’t have it, and instead wound up on his back with Diego Lopes in guard. The champ worked right back up; Lopes scaled his back and looked for a rear-naked choke, but didn’t have it.

Two close rounds. The third saw Diego Lopes getting a little busier. Both still worked the kicks. It was Volkanovski having the first big moment of the round, however, landing a right hand. He followed up, opening up a little, another right hand, a better one, connecting. The champ then tried for a takedown, and a second, but Lopes was able to stuff those attempts. Volkanovski missed a couple of big punches after that, swinging hard but hitting air. Just when Volkanovski appeared to be cruising, he charged forward, and paid for it, eating a short right hand and dropping momentarily. He was right back up, and didn’t appear to be hurt, but it might have been enough to win back a round the champ had clearly been leading.

Round four saw Volkanovski outside at first; he found a home for his right hand soon enough. Lopes had his left hand cocked, while attacking with kicks. The champ, despite the warning signs, was actually circling into Lopes power hand. Both men hit air on a couple of exchanges; Volkanovski would hit a right, then a left with just under two minutes left on the clock. Unfortunately, Volk then landed a low kick, and immediately apologized as the action was paused. Volkanovski himself reacted to the foul as soon as it landed, knowing he’d been off-target.

On the restart, Lopes tried to get in close, but it was Volkanovski getting clipped on the way in.

Lopes appeared to have a foot somewhat compromised to start round five, and looked the protect it, keeping it well behind him. Volkanovski took advantage of Lopes’ labored movement to land an easy takedown, but Lopes was straight back to his feet. Moments later, Volkanovski got the fight down again, but Lopes was back up, and after a little more grappling, they’d go down with Lopes taking the back in a scramble. Volkanovski stood back up, carrying Lopes, who was against the fence. Lopes slipped off, and dropped for a double-leg while Volkanovski landed elbows. Time was winding down. Volkanovski reversed. The champ looked for a trip. Not happening. They’d go down, but Lopes was defending with a kimura then transitioned to an arm-bar.

Volkanovski stacked him up. Lopes didn’t have the space to turn and go belly down. Vokanovski set on top in North-South position, and fired a few hammer fists, albeit at an awkward angle. Lopes fought a good fight, but Alexander Volkanovski did just a little more, and finished in side control raining down a few final blows! It was vintage Volkanovski, who was rarely in trouble in the fight outside of one brief moment.

Official Result: Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) 

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The #8-ranked lightweight, however, had the edge in momentum, having won his last two fights. Hooker, for his part, was looking to bounce back from a loss to Arman Tsarukyan in the fall.

Saint-Denis began shooting takedowns to start the opening frame as Hooker defended well. Hooker attempted a high head kick that was blocked, before Benoit attempted another takedown. Hooker reversed position and returned to the center of the cage, a good left hand landed for Saint-Denis, who forced the fight to the clinch moments later. A front kick up the middle snapped back the head of Saint-Denis as Hooker seemed to be finding a rhythm on the feet. Sensing danger, Saint-Denis landed a judo throw that saw him end up in north-south position. Returning to his feet with a minute left in the round, Hooker landed a good left hand on the inside before getting taken down for the third time in the round. Saint-Denis landed some good ground and pound putting a stamp on the first five minutes of action.

In the second, Saint-Denis immediately forced the fight to the fence as Hooker attempted a guillotine. Scrambling out of trouble, Benoit was able to secure top control and land multiple damaging 12-6 elbows that connected clean. Moving to side control, Saint-Denis threatened an arm triangle as Hooker seemed to be fading away. With two minutes left in the round Benoit was in complete control. Landing some more elbows on top, Hooker was now leaking blood from his eyes while fully mounted. Veteran referee Herb Dean was taking a close look at the action as Hooker absorbed another 25 consecutive strikes before the contest was stopped. A bloodbath between two of the best lightweights on the roster, Benoit Saint-Denis closed the show in impressive fashion.

Stopping “The Hangman” in his own country, Saint-Denis put on a performance fight fans won’t soon forget. In his post fight interview, the French standout and former special forces operator expressed interest in the BMF title. Saint-Denis has the most finishes on the roster since 2021 (9) and has as good of claim to BMF title contention as anyone in the division.

Official Result: Benoit Saint-Denis def. Dan Hooker by TKO, Round 2, 4:45

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A week earlier, Jean Silva had got The Fighting Nerds back on track. Ruffy was next up from the Brazilian camp, looking to bounce back from a loss to Benoit Saint-Denis.

Fiziev was entering off a June victory over Ignacio Bahamondes.

Fiziev held center early, while Ruffy stayed outside, using lateral movement to stay out of range. He got a little too close to the fence, and had to jog away and reset. Fiziev crashed forwards swinging, and Ruffy escaped. An outside leg kick landed for Fiziev, and Ruffy fanned on a kick, more of a knee. Fiziev, for the most part, looked tight, while Ruffy appeared to watch to catch his opponent on the way in, or with a counter. Ruffy would fire a couple of hooks that found the mark. He followed up with a head kick, blocked, with a punch trailing it.

Ruffy had a much better back half to the opening round. In the second, Fiziev worked leg kicks, and Ruffy once again stayed on the outside. His legs were starting to show damage, Fiziev’s leg kicks piling up. Fiziev was doing a good job cutting off the cage, hemming Ruffy in and keeping him in range. Ruffy flashed a right hand, and Fiziev fired a spinning kick up high. He slipped off it, but was quickly back in position.

The round was fairly even, the pair trading single shows, until a right hand rocked Fiziev! Ruffy chased, landing another, and Fiziev went down! Under a minute in round two, and Ruffy was all over Fiziev, who was still on skates. He stumbled back to the fence, Ruffy went in for a few more blows, and the ref waved it off!

An impressive win for Mauricio Ruffy, who gets back in the win column and continues a solid start for The Fighting Nerds in 2026.

Official Result: Mauricio Ruffy def. Rafael Fiziev by TKO, Round 2, 4:30

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Tuivasa was also looking to snap a five fight skid, with his last victory coming back in February of 2022. Still, he remained ranked #12 in the UFC’s heavyweight division, the promotion’s shallowest.

As for Teixeira, he’d never left the first round. That was about the change.

Teixeira almost immediately got the fight to the ground, with Tuivasa cramped against the fence just 15 seconds into the fight. Tuivasa tried to power up, but Teixeira was draped across his back, landing punches to the body. Tai did make it up, but Teixeira was still on him and landed a knee to the body. Tuivasa turned, back to the fence, but wound up taken down again, with Teixeira in mount this time. Tuivasa turned, with Teixeira in three-quarter mount from behind, landing the odd punch. “Bam Bam” Tuivasa had spent the entire fight to that point in defensive mode, on the canvas for most of it.

Teixeira would find space to land some decently heavy punches, but not blows hard enough to knock him out. Teixeira looked for a rear-naked choke next, but wasn’t in position. Instead, Tuivasa powered up and out, the crowd erupting with cheers as he got back to his feet. He’d go on the offensive briefly before they tied up. If nothing else, Tuivasa survived the round.

Round two opened with Teixeira firing a kick. Tuivasa fanned on a right, and Teixeira fanned on another kick. Tai hit a leg kick, Teixeira fanned on another kick of his own. Then came a spinning back fist from Tallison, which Tuivasa deftly ducked under. The towering Brazilian appeared to have slowed a step, perhaps having expended too much energy in round one. Tuivasa touched the inside leg with a kick, then landed a hard one outside. He connected with a right, landed a kick, then Teixeira landed several strikes, which Tai simply ate, granite-chinned. Teixeira drove into a takedown and landed it, but Tuivasa nearly escaped only to be taken down again.

Teixeira then moved to side control before mounting, with Tuivasa flat on his back holding on. He’d eventually roll to his front, giving up his back and eating shots. Teixeira then pushed Tuivasa to his back again, and moved into mount once again. Tuivasa would again survive the round, but despite a better start to the second frame, he was likely down two heading into the third.

Tuivasa walked Teixeira down early in round three, but seemed hesitant to pull the trigger. Both men seemed tired. Tai finally landed a few wild, looping punches, then clinched up. Not the best idea, and likely the result of fatigue. The grappled against the fence, and Tai finally landed. Then he opened up, landing a couple more. Teixeira was stumbling backwards. Tuivasa smelled blood. He landed a left, a right, another right. A left missed. Tuivasa clinched again. Half a round was still on the clock.

From the clinch, back to the fence, Teixeira fired a knee. It looked like he might have a takedown, but Tuivasa was able to stay up. Near the one minute mark, he opened up again, landing a few more blows. Then a few more. Teixeira went to his knees, face down. Tai controlled from the front, but any hope of a finish seemed to be back on the feet. Instead, the fight ended on the ground, with Tai landing multiple body shots.

Official Result: Tallison Teixeira def. Tai Tuivasa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Despite getting the bout on four weeks’ notice, Mullarkey, a training partner of featherweight champ and UFC 325 headliner Alexander Volkanovski, had said coming in that he didn’t consider it a short-notice bout.

Mullarkey came out pressing the action as Salkilld bounced back and forth on his feet. A level change by Salkilld saw him secure a takedown, as Mullarkey worked his way back up against the fence. Both fighters were stalled in the clinch momentarily before Mullarkey landed a quick takedown of his own. A good low kick landed at distance from Salkilld before Mullarkey pressed the fight to the cage. Again Mullarkey tried for a takedown but this time Salkilld reversed the posisiton on the way down landing on top. Forcing his way to his opponent’s back Salkilld was able to lock in a rear naked choke. Fighting the position briefly, Mullarkey tapped in the very first round.

In a passing of the torch moment in Australian MMA the newest and best prospect from the country at 155 pounds is Quillan Salkilld. After a huge headkick KO from Salkilld last time out, he showcased his grappling in this outing, proving he is a well-rounded contender. Salkilld called out a top fifteen opponent in his interview with Daniel Cormier, potentially setting up the biggest fight of his career next time out.

Official Result: Quillan Salkilld def. Jamie Mullarkey by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:01

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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.

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