UFC 325 pre-event facts: Alexander Volkanovski can tie Jose Aldo record

The second half of UFC’s consecutive numbered event start to 2026 goes down Saturday with UFC 325 from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (Paramount+).

A featherweight championship rematch will serve as the headliner of the card. Alexander Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) will attempt to make the first defense of his second title reign when he runs it back with Diego Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC), whom he beat by unanimous decision at UFC 314 in April.

For more on the numbers, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC 325.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes

Alexander Volkanovski

Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 276

Volkanovski is the only Australia-born champion in UFC history.

Volkanovski became the first fighter in UFC history to win an undisputed championship after back-to-back losses with his UFC 314 win.

Volkanovski’s seven victories in UFC featherweight championship bouts are second-most in divisional history behind Jose Aldo (eight). Aldo’s most recent featherweight title fight win came at UFC 200 in July 2016.

Volkanovski is one of four fighters in UFC history to make a title defense after losing a championship bout (the group is 4-0), along with Israel Adesanya, Max Holloway and B.J. Penn. He accomplished the feat at UFC 290.

Volkanovski is one of four fighters in UFC history to start 12-0 with the promotion. Anderson Silva, Kamaru Usman and Khabib Nurmagomedov also accomplished the feat.

Volkanovski’s average fight time of 17:31 in UFC featherweight competition is the longest in divisional history.

Diego Lopes

Lopes has earned 22 of his 26 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his six UFC wins.

Lopes’ five victories since 2023 in UFC featherweight competition are tied for third-most in the division behind Lerone Murphy (six) and Melquizael Costa (six).

Lopes earned two bonuses – Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night – for $100,000 in his UFC Fight Night 259 win.

Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint Denis

Dan Hooker (24-13 MMA, 14-9 UFC) is 3-1 since he returned to the lightweight division in November 2022.

Saint Denis (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has earned all 16 of his career victories by stoppage.

Saint Denis’ eight victories since 2022 in UFC lightweight competition are most in the division.

Saint Denis’ eight stoppage victories since 2021 in UFC competition are tied with Makhachev and Alex Pereira for most in the company.

Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy

Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Justin Gaethje (red gloves) fights Rafael Fiziev (blue gloves) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Rafael Fiziev (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) is one of 15 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 31. There’s been 16 such finishes overall in company history.

Fiziev defends 90.4 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.

Mauricio Ruffy (12-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned 11 of his 12 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished eight of those wins in Round 1.

Ruffy has earned one of 16 knockouts in UFC history stemming from a spinning wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC 313.

Tai Tuivasa vs. Tallison Teixeira

Sep 9, 2023; Sydney, NSW, AUSTRALIA; Tai Tuivasa bleeds during his fight with Alexander Volkov (not pictured) in UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

Tai Tuivasa’s (14-8 MMA, 8-8 UFC) five-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since February 2022.

Tuivasa fell to 5-8 in his past 13 fights after starting his career 10-0.

Tuivasa is one of two heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a flying knee. Fabricio Werdum also accomplished the feat.

Tuivasa is one of four heavyweights in UFC history to earn knockouts stemming from a knee and an elbow strike. Alistair Overeem, Cheick Kongo and Walt Harris also accomplished the feat.

Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey

Quillan Salkilld’s (10-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) earned a 19-second TKO victory at UFC 312, the second-fastest finish by a debuting lightweight in UFC history. Terrance McKinney holds the record with a seven-second win.

Cam Rowston vs. Cody Brundage

Cody Brundage (11-8 MMA, 5-7 UFC) is one of 14 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a slam. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 52.

Jacob Malkoun v. Torrez Finney

Torrez Finney (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) landed just four significant strikes at UFC on ESPN 65, the lowest number for a decision winner in a three-round UFC middleweight bout.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 325 pre-event facts: Alexander Volkanovski can tie Jose Aldo record

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