Saturday night, UFC 325 touches down at Qudos Bank Arena with a stellar card headlined by a fascinating featherweight championship rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, supported by compelling pairings across myriad divisions and the tournament finales for Road to UFC Season 4. Don't miss a moment of UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2, live from Qudos Bank Aerna in Sydney, Australia on January 31, 2026. Early prelims start at 5pm ET/2pm PT, followed by the prelims at 7pm ET/4pm PT and the main card live on Paramount+ at 9pm ET/6pm PT.

Less than a year after facing off for the vacant featherweight title in Miami, two-time champion Alexander Volkanovski makes the first defense of his second reign against the man he beat in order to reclaim the throne--Diego Lopes--in a sequel that has the potential to surpass its predecessor. Volkanovski is one of the best fighters of his generation, without question, and one of the greatest of all-time; a technical master with insane Fight IQ, tons of moxie and mettle, and a resume that will hold up exceptionally well through the years. There is nothing the 37-year-old does that flies off the screen, but that’s the beauty of his game; it’s all about the elite preparation, razor-sharp fundamentals, and ability to adjust on the fly as the situation calls for it that make him such a tremendous champion.

Not yet in his fourth year on the roster, Lopes is fighting for the title for a second time, having gotten himself back in the win column last September with a second-round stoppage win over Jean Silva at Noche UFC in an electric fight that showcased what makes him so incredibly dangerous and entertaining. Traditionally a fast starter that can threaten in every phase, the Brazilian challenger will look to spoil Volkanovski’s homecoming and put a quick end to his second run atop the featherweight division here. Rematches are endlessly fascinating because both individuals have first-hand experience to draw from the second time around. While Lopes definitely feels like the kind of competitor that will benefit greatly from having been through this once before — he seemed a little “deer in the headlines” at the outset of their UFC 314 clash — Volkanovski is one of the most experienced champions in the fold and has shown time and again that he’s able to give you new looks each time out.

The featherweight division is brimming with talent and primed to be front-and-center all year, and how this one plays out will chart the course for the weight class for the remainder of 2026. The ironic thing about last weekend’s main event being such an intense and entertaining battle is that we don’t have to wait very long to see a potential challenger for the clubhouse lead in the Fight of the Year race, as this pairing between Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis carries the same kind of “instant classic” potential. Hooker has been one of the most consistently entertaining fighters on the roster since shifting to the lightweight ranks nine years ago, posting an 11-5 record that includes memorable finishes and fights against Jim Miller, Gilbert Burns, Edson Barboza, Paul Felder, Dustin Poirier, Jalin Turner, and Mateusz Gamrot. “The Hangman” makes a relatively quick turnaround after fighting towards the end of November in order to compete close to home and with designs on opening the year with an impressive win that solidifies his place in the rankings, setting him up for something delicious next time out.

Saturday’s prelims wrap in the light heavyweight division as Junior Tafa welcomes Billy Elekana to Australia. After opening his UFC tenure at heavyweight, Tafa relocated to the 205-pound ranks last time out and returns to action looking to get the year off on a positive note. Thrust into a tough assignment on short notice in his debut, Elekana has since earned back-to-back wins to establish himself as an intriguing figure rising the ranks in the light heavyweight division. Rowston turned his second DWCS appearance into a spot on the UFC roster last summer, then turned around five weeks later to score a first-round stoppage win over Andre Petroski in Perth, extending his winning streak to five in the process. Every Brundage fight is an adventure, and this one should be no different, as the Factory X representative is never in a boring fight and has earned all five of his UFC victories inside the first five minutes. “Mamba” has been sidelined for nearly two years, but has won four of his last six and looked poised to make a push in the middleweight division before injuries halted his momentum. Unbeaten in 11 pro fights, Finney needed three DWCS wins to land a place on the roster and then added to his run of success with a grimy decision win over Robert Valentin in his maiden trip into the Octagon last April. Originally slated to compete last September in Perth, welterweight hopefuls Jonathan Micallef and Oban Elliott will look to settle their differences this weekend in Sydney.