Alexander Volkanovski is staying laser-focused ahead of his fight against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 this weekend.
Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) is scheduled to make the first title defense of his second reign atop the featherweight division when he faces Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) for the second time in the main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday.
Volkanovski outpointed Lopes over five rounds in their last meeting at UFC 314 last April to claim the vacant 145-pound title, which he had lost to Ilia Topuria in 2024. The victory made the Australian the first fighter over the age of 35 to win a UFC title fight in one of the lighter weight classes (lightweight or below).
With rumors of a potential retirement mounting, Volkanovski insists that he is leaving no stone unturned as he prepares to fight in his eleventh consecutive UFC title fight this weekend.
“We're in a good position, but right now is where I really, really pick it up and dial right in, you know what I mean?” Volkanovski told ESPN Australia/NZ. “It needs to be done. You need to be calculated, especially (at) this point in my career. You better be doing it right because things can go bad if you're not doing it right at 37 years old.”
While much of the discourse surrounding the future of the UFC featherweight title has centered on the division’s growing list of contenders, Volkanovski insists he relishes being overlooked by his peers and takes pride in remaining at the top at his age.
“I'm happy to talk about it,” said the Australian. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, why does he keep bringing up (the fact that he’s) 37-year-old?’ I love it. Again, I want that pressure. I want people thinking I'm old. I am old. But I'm still better than these guys, and I'll show you.”
