UFC 325 live results, highlights from Alex Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After a difficult 2024, Alex Volkanovski (27-4) found himself back at the top of the featherweight mountain when he defeated Diego Lopes (27-7) over five hard rounds at UFC 314 last April.
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The Australian now gets the opportunity to perform in his home state for the first time since 2017, when he again faces Lopes, who knocked out Jean Silva to put himself back in the title frame.
Headlining the bout at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, February 1 (Jan. 31 in the U.S.), Volkanovski has promised to put on a show for his fans, while Lopes is confident of righting the wrongs from their first meeting and getting his hands on UFC gold.
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In the chief support, ranked lightweights Benoit Saint-Denis and Dan Hooker clash in what shapes as an action-packed affair.
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Follow along with all the latest from UFC 325 below:
UFC 325 Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 live updates, highlights
Round 2: Volkanovski begins round two circling the challenger, with work being directed at Lopes’ lead leg. At this early stage, it seems lead leg kicks, left jabs and getting the heck out of dodge when a Lopes bombs is about to be dropped is the game plan. It’s working well. Lopes catches Volkanovski with a jab and the champ’s eye immediately swells. The duo then trade half-in submissions and we’re off to round 3.
Round 1: Both fighters tentative in the opening minutes with Volkanovski staying at range, throwing feints and lopes content to do the same. The action is coming in flurries with the champ potentially getting the best of the brief action. A late takedown attempt from Volkanovski is defended and the round ends with the champing circling Lopes, planting two consecutive jabs right on the snout. SN Unofficial scorecard: Volkanovski 10-9
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3:25pm AEDT: Bruce has entered the octagon. See you on the other side.
3:02pm AEDT: To borrow some local parlance, this place will be wildly oscillating between feral and berko when Men at Work’s “Land Down Under” kicks in. The wait is almost over.
3:00pm AEDT: Saint-Denis ends it early and Captain New Zealand ends up on the wrong end of a TKO. And now we wait.
2:40pm AEDT: With Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Dan Hooker underway, we’re edging ever closer to the main event and it can’t come fast enough. Qudos Bank Arena is a loud, potentially structurally-impacted arena right now.
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UFC 325 Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 fight card and results
Main Card
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Alex Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2 for the UFC Featherweight title
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Benoit Saint-Denis def. Dan Hooker (via TKO)
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Rafael Fiziev def. by Mauricio Ruffy (viaTKO)
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Tai Tuivasa def. by Tallison Teixeira (unanimous decision)
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Quillan Salkilled def. Jamie Mullarkey (via submission)
Prelims
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Junior Tafa def. by Billy Elekana (via submission)
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Cam Rowston def. Cody Brundage (via TKO)
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Jacob Malkoun def. Torrez Finney (via unanimous decision)
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Jonathan Micaellef def. Oban Elliott (via submission)
Early Prelims
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Kaan Ofli def. Yizha (via majority decision)
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Sangwook Kim def. by Dom Mar Fan (via unanimous decision)
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Keichiro Nakamura def. Sebastian Szalay (via TKO)
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Sulangrangbo def. by Lawrence Lui (via split decision)
