What Happened at UFC 325? Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2

You searched for UFC 325 because you wanted real answers — not a preview that’s already outdated. Here they are. UFC 325, officially titled Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2, took place on January 31, 2026, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. Alexander Volkanovski defended his featherweight title against Diego Lopes for the second time in under a year. If you missed the card, want the full results, or need to know where and when it all went down, this guide covers everything.

01 UFC 325 Quick-Reference Table

02 Where Was UFC 325?

UFC 325 was held at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The arena sits inside Sydney Olympic Park, a landmark venue known for hosting major international events. This marked the UFC’s eighth visit to Sydney overall, and its first return since UFC 312 in February 2025 — just under 12 months prior. For Volkanovski, a born-and-raised Australian from Shellharbour, New South Wales, fighting on home soil carried enormous personal significance. It was the first time in his entire UFC career that he defended his title in front of a home crowd.

03 When Was UFC 325?

The event took place on Saturday, January 31, 2026 (local Sydney time: Sunday, February 1, 2026). The prelims began at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, with the main card kicking off at 9:00 PM ET. For Australian fans, the fights were broadcast in prime time — another reason the Sydney crowd was particularly loud and invested from the very first bout.

04 What Time Did UFC 325 Start?

Here is the full UFC 325 start-time breakdown across major time zones:

05 How to Watch UFC 325 (Where to Watch UFC)

UFC 325 streamed on Paramount+ in the United States for both the prelims and the main card. International fans had access through UFC Fight Pass. In Australia, the event aired on Kayo Sports and Main Event on Foxtel. If you missed it live, the full card is available on UFC Fight Pass on demand.

06 UFC 325 Main Card Results

Main Event: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes — UFC Featherweight Championship

This was a rematch of their first meeting at UFC 314 in April 2025, where Volkanovski had also won a unanimous decision to claim the vacant featherweight title. The sequel played out in much the same way. Volkanovski used superior footwork and fight IQ to consistently beat Lopes to the punch, landing cleaner, harder shots each time Lopes moved forward. Lopes had his moments — he dropped Volkanovski with a short right hook in the third round and hunted a finish — but could not sustain the pressure needed to steal the scorecards.

All three judges scored the fight for Volkanovski, giving him his eighth UFC featherweight title fight victory, tying the legendary Jose Aldo’s record. The main event also earned Fight of the Night honours, with both fighters receiving a $100,000 bonus.

Co-Main Event: Benoît Saint-Denis vs. Dan Hooker — Lightweight

Winner: Benoît Saint-Denis via TKO (Round 2)

Saint-Denis, nicknamed “God of War,” was relentless from the opening horn. He maintained his 100 percent finishing rate and collected his fourth straight stoppage win by mauling Dan Hooker through two rounds before forcing the stoppage. The performance put him firmly inside the lightweight title picture.

Mauricio Ruffy vs. Rafael Fiziev — Lightweight

Winner: Mauricio Ruffy via stoppage

Ruffy’s performance was one of the most talked-about of the night. He had spent time training with the City Kickboxing gym in Auckland — the same team as Volkanovski — ahead of the fight, and the work showed. He stopped Fiziev and earned a Performance of the Night bonus. The win was a significant bounce-back after a lopsided loss to Saint-Denis months earlier.

Tallison Teixeira vs. Tai Tuivasa — Heavyweight

Winner: Tallison Teixeira via unanimous decision (three rounds)

Teixeira, the towering Brazilian heavyweight, grounded Tuivasa in each of the first two rounds and controlled the fight throughout. The Sydney crowd backed Tuivasa loudly, but Teixeira was composed and effective, winning all three rounds on the scorecards.

Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey — Lightweight

Winner: Quillan Salkilld via submission — rear-naked choke (Round 1, 3:02)

Salkilld made a statement finish against Mullarkey and collected a Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts.

07 UFC 325 Prelim Results

Cam Rowston fought in his hometown of Sydney for the first time in nine years and delivered a TKO win over Cody Brundage to extend his winning streak to six fights. The crowd reaction was one of the loudest of the night.

08 UFC 325 Road to UFC (Early Prelims)

Lawrence Lui punched his ticket to the UFC with his split-decision win, becoming the first City Kickboxing fighter to earn a UFC contract on the night.

09 UFC 325 Bonus Awards

10 Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325: What Made It Historic

Volkanovski’s second win over Lopes at UFC 325 was more than a title defense — it was a legacy-defining performance in front of a home crowd. A few reasons this fight stands apart:

• Home soil defense — The first time in his UFC career he defended a title in Australia.
• Eighth featherweight title fight win — Ties Jose Aldo’s all-time record for the division.
• 25-minute domination — Despite being dropped in Round 3, he never lost control of the fight.
• Fight IQ showcase — Judges, analysts, and coaches widely cited this fight as a masterclass in counter-punching and distance management.

11 Diego Lopes at UFC 325: What’s Next?

Lopes gave Volkanovski trouble in moments but could not find enough sustained offense to take rounds consistently. He dropped Volkanovski in the third and briefly threatened with a submission attempt, but the champion survived and finished strong. Lopes now holds two losses to Volkanovski, and another title shot in the immediate future looks difficult — particularly with top contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy waiting in line. His next move will likely be a rematch with a top-5 opponent to re-establish his position in the rankings.

12 What Is UFC? A Quick Background

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion. It was founded in 1993 and is currently owned by TKO Group Holdings, which also controls WWE. UFC events feature fighters competing across multiple weight classes — from strawweight (115 lbs) all the way to heavyweight (265 lbs). Dana White serves as President of the UFC, a role he has held since 2001.

The UFC schedule runs year-round, mixing numbered pay-per-view events (like UFC 325) with UFC Fight Night cards held globally. Fighters sign exclusive contracts with the promotion and compete under its unified rules, which include standing strikes, takedowns, clinch fighting, and ground-and-pound.

13 UFC Schedule: What Came Before and After UFC 325

UFC 325 fits into a busy early-2026 calendar. Here is context on recent and neighboring events:

For the full current UFC schedule, visit ufc.com/events.

14 UFC Rankings After UFC 325 (Featherweight Division)

Following the results of UFC 325, the featherweight picture looks like this:

• Champion: Alexander Volkanovski (defended twice against Lopes in under 12 months)
• Contenders in focus: Movsar Evloev, Lerone Murphy, Jean Silva
• Diego Lopes drops down the rankings following two consecutive title losses
• Mauricio Ruffy climbs into the lightweight Top 15 following his Performance of the Night finish

15 UFC 325 vs. UFC 314: How the Two Fights Compare

Many fans wondered whether the rematch would be different from their first meeting at UFC 314 in April 2025. Here is a straightforward comparison:

The rematch was more competitive than the first fight, but the outcome was the same.

16 Why Was UFC Tonight Trending After UFC 325?

UFC 325 trended globally on social media for several reasons:

• Volkanovski defending his title on home soil for the first time
• The Lopes knockdown in Round 3 created massive buzz online
• Benoît Saint-Denis’s dominant TKO win put the lightweight division on notice
• Mauricio Ruffy’s comeback win after months of training with Volkanovski’s team
• Cam Rowston’s emotional TKO win in front of his home city crowd

17 Frequently Asked Questions About UFC 325

What is UFC 325?

UFC 325 is a numbered UFC pay-per-view event titled “Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2.” It took place on January 31, 2026, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, and featured Alexander Volkanovski defending his featherweight title against Diego Lopes in a rematch.

Where is UFC 325 / where was UFC 325 held?

UFC 325 took place at Qudos Bank Arena, located at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was the UFC’s eighth event in Sydney.

When is UFC 325 / when was UFC 325?

UFC 325 took place on Saturday, January 31, 2026 (Sunday, February 1 in Australian local time). The prelims started at 5:00 PM ET, and the main card began at 9:00 PM ET.

What time does UFC 325 start / what time is UFC 325?

The prelims started at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, with the main card beginning at 9:00 PM ET. For Australian viewers in Sydney, the main card started at approximately 1:00 PM local time on February 1.

Who won at UFC 325?

Alexander Volkanovski won the main event via unanimous decision, retaining his UFC featherweight championship. Benoît Saint-Denis stopped Dan Hooker in the co-main event. The full results are detailed in the fight card sections above.

Where to watch UFC 325?

UFC 325 was broadcast in the United States on Paramount+. In Australia, it aired on Kayo Sports and Main Event (Foxtel). Internationally, it was available on UFC Fight Pass. The event is now available to stream on demand through UFC Fight Pass.

18 Conclusion: UFC 325 Delivered in Sydney

UFC 325 was one of the more complete shows the UFC put on in the early part of 2026. It had a clean headline result, a Fight of the Night main event that went the distance, two memorable stoppages in the co-main and featured bouts, and a hometown atmosphere that created genuine energy throughout the card. Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 settled the featherweight question clearly — the champion remains in control of the division.