UFC 325 heads to Sydney with Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 set for the main event

UFC 325 is bringing a title fight back to Australia, with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski scheduled to defend against Diego Lopes in a rematch at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Saturday, January 31, 2026 ET. The event lands on Sunday local time in Australia, adding extra spotlight to what is being framed as a major UFC Sydney return.

Volkanovski and Diego Lopes run it back with the belt on the line

Volkanovski and Diego Lopes meet again after their first five-round fight in April 2025, when Volkanovski won a decision to claim the vacant featherweight title. The vacancy came after Ilia Topuria moved on from the division, clearing the way for a new champion.

This UFC 325 booking puts the champion back in Sydney for a title defense, turning the arena into a home-region stage for one of Australia’s biggest MMA names. The reason for the change has not been stated publicly regarding why this rematch was prioritized ahead of other contenders.

UFC 325 fight card: full lineup announced for UFC Sydney

The UFC 325 fight card currently lists 14 bouts, combining a championship main event with a co-main that features two established lightweights and a slate that leans heavily into Australia and the wider region.

Main event and featured bouts include:

• Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2, featherweight title fight

• Dan Hooker vs Benoit Saint-Denis, lightweight

• Rafael Fiziev vs Mauricio Ruffy, lightweight

• Tai Tuivasa vs Tallison Teixeira, heavyweight

• Quillan Salkilld vs Jamie Mullarkey, lightweight

• Junior Tafa vs Billy Elekana, light heavyweight

• Cam Rowston vs Cody Brundage, middleweight

• Jacob Malkoun vs Torrez Finney, middleweight

• Jonathan Micallef vs Oban Elliott, welterweight

• Kaan Ofli vs Yizha, featherweight

• Dom Mar Fan vs Sang Uk Kim, lightweight

• Sebastian Szalay vs Keiichiro Nakamura, featherweight

• Sulangrangbo vs Lawrence Lui, bantamweight

• Namsrai Batbayar vs Aaron Tau, flyweight

Further specifics were not immediately available on whether any bouts are expected to shift divisions or order as fight week approaches.

How fight week works and why the lineup can still change

In the days leading up to a pay-per-view style event, the fight card typically goes through a final sequence of commission check-ins, medical clearances, and official weigh-ins. Fighters are expected to hit contracted weight limits, and any misses can trigger renegotiated terms, fines, or even cancellations depending on the circumstances and the opponent’s willingness to proceed.

Even when a full UFC 325 fight card is posted well in advance, it can move quickly late in the week due to travel issues, injuries, or medical decisions. Key terms have not been disclosed publicly for any contingency plans tied to late replacements or bout-order reshuffles.

What it means for fans, fighters, and the Sydney fight week economy

For fans, UFC Sydney events tend to concentrate demand into a short window, from open workouts to ceremonial weigh-ins and fight night. Traveling supporters and local attendees are the most directly affected by late changes, because bout cancellations can alter what people paid to see and how they plan their weekend around the arena precinct.

For fighters and teams, a card like UFC 325 is also a career traffic jam: a win can reposition contenders quickly, while a loss can send an athlete back into a long rebuild. Local businesses around Sydney Olympic Park, including hotels, restaurants, and transport services, are another group that benefits from the surge in visitors tied to a major combat-sports weekend.

The next verifiable milestone comes with the official weigh-in process and final bout confirmations, which typically lock in the order of competition heading into Saturday night ET. In the days ahead, the clearest updates will come from completed weigh-ins and any formal medical or commission rulings that determine whether every listed fight proceeds as scheduled.