UFC 325 offered Alexander Volkanovski another opportunity to reaffirm his status as the featherweight champion, while Diego Lopes once more fell short in a championship bout against his more experienced foe. Here are the five key insights from the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s recent event in Australia.
1. What if age is merely another foe that Alexander Volkanovski easily outmatches? We continually anticipate seeing him eventually look like a featherweight past his mid-thirties. Yet, he consistently steps into the octagon appearing largely unchanged, from his gleaming bald head to his neatly trimmed beard.
Volkanovski, 37, possesses one of the sharpest fighting minds ever observed at 145 pounds. His talent for analyzing opponents and adapting mid-fight is arguably his most formidable asset. For long-term success in this sport, particularly at the pinnacle of the lighter divisions, building a foundation on fight intelligence and flexibility proves far more durable than relying solely on speed, reflexes, or raw power. It’s simply impossible to out-think the featherweight king, so challengers must bring an array of other tactics.
Nevertheless, a new generation of hungry contenders is emerging. Movsar Evloev. Lerone Murphy. One cannot help but ponder how much longer an aging, slightly undersized 145-pounder can maintain his grip on a title in a weight class where he has been the primary target for roughly seven years. The longer one persists, the lower the chances of a victorious conclusion. Even “Volk” cannot forever defy the passage of time.
2. Lopes must have surprisingly embraced his first title fight loss by decision, given his minimal effort to avert a similar outcome in this return match. Seriously, what was the game plan? Every other observer of the initial encounter expected increased urgency, more aggression, and less passive waiting and dancing to the champion’s rhythm. But Lopes entered the cage on Saturday and performed as if this contest was simply a continuation of the previous one. Round 6, starting now. Repeating the same actions and hoping for a different result.
I’m puzzled. Was he unaware that judges were scoring these rounds? Did he not realize there were only five of them? If you’re not going to outwork your adversary, then you must inflict more damage. And if that’s not your path, then you absolutely must secure a finish. Lopes had moments to pursue such strategies, just as he did in their first meeting. Still, he appeared strangely content to let the clock run down, as if these chances were limitless. They are not. Nor are opportunities for a title shot. He was fortunate to receive a second one so soon after the first. However, following that display, I wouldn’t anticipate a third.
3. Benoit Saint Denis is actively attempting to erase the memory of his unfortunate run in 2024 — and it seems to be succeeding. The French fighter has remained unbeaten since that two-fight losing streak. He also hasn’t permitted any opponent to advance past the second round. In this latest outing, he required just a brief moment to settle in before utterly dominating Dan Hooker, which may or may not be the kind of performance that still earns consideration for a title shot at 155 pounds.
Saint Denis still appears to lack the refinement to pose a significant threat to someone like UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, but he certainly promises an exciting matchup for nearly anyone in the top five while we await the resolution between Topuria and the new interim champion Justin Gaethje.
4. Tallison Teixeira demonstrated that it’s indeed possible to defeat Tai Tuivasa without gaining much benefit from the victory. Before this occurred, I would have declared it impossible. How do you secure a win against a popular heavyweight yet somehow manage to generate less excitement than ever about yourself? How does such a thing even transpire?
As it turns out, it can be accomplished quite easily. All you need to do is cruise to a questionable decision victory against an opponent who hasn’t secured a win in four years. You get extra credit if you somehow manage to look even more fatigued than he does, while still clinging to a win solely because neither of you possessed the stamina to complete three full rounds. This spectacle was arduous to witness. While it might register as a bounce-back on Teixeira’s record, it certainly didn’t establish him as the new formidable force in the heavyweight division. The silver lining is that it likely won’t be difficult to find willing opponents after that showing.
5. Rafael Fiziev deserves recognition for his sheer determination. He absorbed those powerful right hands from Mauricio Ruffy, and his body’s instinct was to shut down and concede. Fiziev, however, refused to yield. He persisted in fighting, even while stumbling like an unsteady foal. There is no surrender in that individual.
But Mauricio Ruffy’s fists carry immense power, which ultimately decided the outcome.
He maintained pressure on Fiziev, remained composed during his final barrage, and returned to the win column after his sole UFC defeat to Saint Denis last year. Ruffy continues to show all the attributes necessary to become a significant contender at lightweight, even amidst the division’s currently crowded and unpredictable landscape.
