Alexander Volkanovski has already set his sights on what comes next.
The featherweight champion put his belt on the line in the UFC 325 main event, marking the first defence of his second reign.
Volkanovski went the distance with Diego Lopes, earning a unanimous decision win at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
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After the fight, Volkanovski did not waste any time outlining who he wants to face for his next title defence.
Alexander Volkanovski has his eye on Movsar Evloev
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Speaking after his win at UFC 325, Volkanovski said he would like to face Movsar Evloev in his next title defence.
Evloev, who is unbeaten in 19 fights, missed out on a shot at the belt this time around but remains firmly in the picture.
He is set to take on Lerone Murphy in a title eliminator at UFC London on March 21.
The winner of that bout would typically be next in line for a title fight. However, there is talk that Arman Tsarukyan or Jean Silva could jump the queue.
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During a post-UFC 325 interview with Main Event, ‘The Great’ discussed Evloev and Murphy. He said: “Undefeated sounds good. I mean, they are both undefeated in the UFC.
“I think Movsar’s 19-0, he’s got that wrestling and grappling style that’s taking over the UFC at the moment. The new era, they could say. Undefeated. I’m looking at the storyline. They are both good storylines, but probably Movsar.
“Who do I think is gonna win that fight? I think Movsar wins that fight.
“So, if they do fight, I’ll probably end up facing him.”
Update on Diego Lopes following UFC 325
Diego Lopes has spoken out from his hospital bed, providing fans with a look at the injuries he sustained during UFC 325.
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His manager, Jason House, posted a photo showing Lopes in good spirits despite the circumstances, captioning the image: “Looks like we broke both feet.”
“Some nights you’re at the afterparty, some nights you’re at the ER [Emergency Room]. But every morning I give thanks for the opportunity to live this life with my best friends,” House added.
Lopes’ recovery timeline following the injuries sustained at UFC 325 is currently uncertain.
