Alexander Volkanovski is heading back to the Octagon. It’s been a wild ride for the former P4P king, but the dust has finally settled on the matchmaking front. For everyone asking about the Alexander Volkanovski next fight, the answer is officially locked in: a high-stakes title rematch against Brazil’s Diego Lopes.
The UFC is heading to Sydney for UFC 325. This isn't just another title defense. It’s a massive homecoming for a guy who has spent the last year proving that the "over-35 curse" is mostly just a scary story we tell each other on MMA Twitter.
The Rematch: Alexander Volkanovski Next Fight Details
Mark your calendars for February 1, 2026. The Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney is going to be absolutely deafening. "The Great" is defending his featherweight belt against Diego Lopes, the man he beat back in April 2025 at UFC 314.
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That first fight was a five-round war. Volkanovski took the unanimous decision to reclaim the throne, but Lopes didn't go away quietly. Since then, Lopes has been on a tear, most recently sleeping Jean Silva with a spinning elbow that looked like it belonged in a video game. It's rare to see the UFC run back a fight where the champ won clearly, but Lopes has made himself impossible to ignore.
Why Sydney and Why Now?
Volk hasn't fought in his home state since 2017. Think about that for a second. He’s been all over the world—Abu Dhabi, Vegas, Perth—but Sydney hasn't seen the local hero in almost a decade.
- Event: UFC 325
- Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
- Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026 (AEDT)
- Main Event: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes 2
The UFC schedule is looking stacked for early 2026. Just a week before Volk takes center stage, Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje are squaring off for an interim lightweight strap at UFC 324. There’s already chatter that if Volkanovski cleans out Lopes again, he might look at the winner of that fight. He’s never really let go of that double-champ dream, has he?
Is Retirement on the Horizon?
You can't talk about an Alexander Volkanovski next fight without addressing the elephant in the room. He’s 37. In the lower weight classes, that’s usually when the wheels start to come off. Tom Aspinall actually went on record recently saying he hopes Volk wins this one and hangs it up.
Honestly? Volk doesn't seem to care. He told Ariel Helwani that he only thinks about retirement if things go "horrendously wrong." He’s still training at City Kickboxing and Tiger Muay Thai, and by all accounts, he’s still the fastest guy in the room. He did admit that he doesn't want to spend his final years just beating guys he’s already beaten. He wants new challenges.
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That’s probably why he’s already eyeing Lerone Murphy or the undefeated Movsar Evloev. If he gets past Lopes, those are the names on the whiteboard. He wants to be the one to take an "0" before he walks away for good.
The Diego Lopes Factor
Don't sleep on Diego Lopes. The guy is a different animal than he was in their first meeting. At 30 years old, he’s in his physical prime and possesses a submission game that makes even the best wrestlers nervous.
Volkanovski’s game plan is usually built on high-volume striking and "un-pinnable" scramble ability. But Lopes is long. He’s dangerous in the transitions. In their last fight, there were moments where the Sydney crowd might have held their breath. This time, Lopes knows he can hurt the champ.
Legacy and What’s at Stake
If Volkanovski wins, he moves closer to Jose Aldo's records. He’s already got seven title fight wins in the featherweight division. A win here puts him in a category of one.
The featherweight division has changed. Ilia Topuria vacating the belt to chase lightweight gold opened the door for this second Volk era. Now, the 145-pound landscape is filled with "ones to watch" like Youssef Zalal and Jean Silva. But as it stands, everything still runs through the bloke from Windang.
Basically, the Alexander Volkanovski next fight is about more than just a belt. It’s about a legend deciding exactly how he wants his final chapter to read. Does he go out as the dominant king of Sydney, or does he pass the torch to the new generation of Brazilian killers?
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What to Watch For
If you're watching the lead-up, keep an eye on Volk’s speed. People always look for the "cliff" with older fighters. If he’s still moving like he did against Yair Rodriguez or in the first Lopes fight, it’s going to be a long night for Diego.
On the flip side, watch Lopes’ confidence. He’s coming off a Knockout of the Year contender. If he starts landing that lead hook early, the energy in Qudos Bank Arena is going to get very tense, very fast.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the UFC 325 ticket releases if you're in Australia; they’re moving fast.
- Rewatch the first Volkanovski vs. Lopes fight from UFC 314 to see how the wrestling exchanges played out.
- Keep an eye on the UFC 324 results the week prior, as the Gaethje vs. Pimblett winner could be Volk's next big challenge if he decides to move up again.