UFC 325: Volkanovski Defends Featherweight Championship
In an impressive display of skill and determination, Alexander Volkanovski defended his featherweight championship on Sunday at UFC 325, triumphing over Diego Lopes with a unanimous decision. Hailing from New South Wales, Volkanovski, now boasting a record of 29 wins and 4 losses, caught the attention of the crowd at Sydney Olympic Park, earning scores of 49-46 from two judges and a 50-45 from another.
Rematch and Strategy
This latest showdown marked a rematch, as Volkanovski had previously faced Lopes in April during UFC 314, where he also emerged victorious. Demonstrating strategic prowess, Volkanovski expressed that he anticipated Lopes would come prepared for their encounter.
“His team did a good job making adjustments since our last fight, but I utilized all my tools effectively,”
he commented. Despite his strategic approach, Volkanovski admitted he would have preferred to secure a quicker finish against his 27-year-old opponent.
Fight Highlights
The match commenced with a somewhat uneventful first round, characterized predominantly by tactical feints from both competitors. However, the intensity escalated in the second round, where Volkanovski attempted a jump guillotine which Lopes deftly evaded, followed by a rear-naked choke effort towards the round’s conclusion. The third round was marked by powerful exchanges, including a staggering double-right from Volkanovski and a swift counter from Lopes that momentarily put the champion on his knees.
Post-Match Reflections
In his post-match reflection, Volkanovski underscored the significance of this win, aligning it with his aspirations after facing defeat against Islam Makhachev in February.
“I almost had my moment in Perth, but this victory is incredibly meaningful here in Sydney,”
he remarked. With this win, Volkanovski tied the record for the most title fight victories in UFC featherweight history, matching the legendary Jose Aldo with eight wins.
Co-Main Event and Other Notable Fights
In the co-main event, Benoit Saint Denis, ranked No. 8 in the lightweight division, achieved his fourth consecutive win by delivering a technical knockout to No. 6 Dan Hooker in the second round. Saint Denis overwhelmed Hooker with a series of punishing elbows followed by a relentless barrage of punches.
In other notable fights of the night, No. 14 Mauricio Ruffy secured a second-round technical knockout against No. 9 Rafael Fiziev, showcasing a powerful sequence of punches. Meanwhile, in the heavyweight category, No. 15 Tallison Teixeira emerged victorious over No. 12 Tai Tuivasa with a unanimous decision following a heated battle that left both fighters visibly marked. The night commenced with Quillan Salkilld securing a quick victory over Jamie Mullarkey, ending the bout early with a rear-naked choke in the first round, marking Salkilld’s fourth straight win.
