After what felt like an eternity without fights to sink our teeth into, the UFC makes a quick turnaround this weekend, delivering its second numbered event in just eight days at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) will look to make the first defense of his second featherweight title reign as he faces the man he defeated at UFC 314 last April to claim the vacant belt: Diego Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC).
In the co-main event, Kiwi favorite Dan Hooker (24-13 MMA, 14-9 UFC) returns to take on French wrecking machine Benoît Saint-Denis (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC). The main card also features what should be a striker’s delight, as Rafael Fiziev (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) squares off with Mauricio Ruffy (12-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC).
Let’s take a look at the main card action set to unfold at UFC 325 this Saturday night.
Alexander Volkanovski (C) vs. Diego Lopes (#2) – UFC Featherweight Championship
Fighting in his 11th consecutive championship bout this weekend, Alexander Volkanovski can equal José Aldo’s record of eight victories in UFC featherweight title fights if he defeats Diego Lopes for a second time in the span of ten months.
While he outpointed Lopes over 25 minutes in their previous meeting at UFC 314, history suggests that fighters rarely make dramatic improvements at age 37. The central question surrounding the reigning featherweight champion is whether he can reach those same levels at 37 years old, particularly after an extended layoff.
While the likes of Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy may have had stronger claims to be next in line to face Volkanovski, few fighters on the UFC roster are as exciting as Diego Lopes right now. With 22 stoppage wins in his professional career, the Brazilian must prove he has closed the gap enough to land one of his trademark power shots.
Dan Hooker (#6) vs. Benoit Saint-Denis (#8) – Lightweight
Dan Hooker returns in Saturday’s co-main event, looking to get back in the win column following his submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar last November. “The Hangman” rarely disappoints when he steps inside the Octagon and has become a fan favorite in recent years thanks to his fearless, brawling style.
He’ll have a willing dance partner this weekend in Benoît Saint-Denis, who enjoyed an exceptional 2025, racking up victories over Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy, and Beneil Dariush. Those wins tied him with Alex Pereira and Islam Makhachev for the most stoppage victories (eight) in the UFC since 2021.
Rafael Fiziev (#9) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (#14) – Lightweight
Like Hooker, Mauricio Ruffy will also be looking to bounce back from defeat this weekend when he takes on the experienced Rafael Fiziev. Ruffy enjoyed a spectacular, highlight-laden start to his UFC career before Benoît Saint-Denis halted his momentum at UFC Paris last September.
The Brazilian struggled with Saint-Denis’s powerful grappling, and while Fiziev typically relies on his stand-up game, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that the Kazakh veteran mixes things up this Saturday, especially given the success he had taking Justin Gaethje down when they fought in March of last year.
Tai Tuivasa (#12) vs. Tallison Teixeira (#15) – Heavyweight
Two heavyweights on very different trajectories collide this weekend as Aussie favorite Tai Tuivasa (14-8 MMA, 8-8 UFC) takes on Dana White’s Contender Series alumnus Tallison Teixeira (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC).
“Bam Bam” hasn’t won inside the Octagon since his victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC 271 nearly four years ago and will be looking to snap a five-fight losing streak this Saturday. Teixeira was stopped by Lewis in his most recent outing but had won all eight of his professional fights prior to that bout, each by first-round stoppage.
Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey – Lightweight
Australia’s most exciting prospect opens this Saturday’s main card, as Quillan Salkilled (10-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) faces Jamie Mullarkey (18-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC). After punching his ticket to the big leagues by way of a win on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024, Salkilld went 3-0 inside the Octagon last year, capping off 2025 with one of the most stunning headkick knockout finishes of all time when he flatlined Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 321 in October.
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Junior Tafa vs. Billy Elekana – Light Heavyweight
- Cam Rowston vs. Cody Brundage – Middleweight
- Jacob Malkoun vs. Torrez Finney – Middleweight
- Johnathan Micallef vs. Oban Elliott – Welterweight
- Kaan Ofli vs. Yizha – Featherweight
- Sangwook Kim vs. Dom Mar Fan – Lightweight
- Keiichiro Nakamura vs. Sebastian Szalay – Featherweight
- Sulangrangbo vs. Lawrence Lui – Bantamweight
- Aaron Tau vs. Namsrai Batbayar - Flyweight
