Last week, the UFC opened its 2026 season with a rousing success. The move from the ESPN family of networks to Paramount+ is seen as one of the biggest positives for any sport in several years. For fans of the UFC, the quality and depth of knowledge on Paramount+ were vastly superior to those on ESPN. For the casual sector, Paramount+ coverage was much more helpful in learning what to know than the World Wide Leader in superficiality.
On Saturday night, UFC 325 will host a championship fight for the second consecutive week. Defending champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his belt against #2-ranked Diego Lopes. This is a rematch of an April 2025 fight in which Volkanovski won the title by unanimous decision over Lopes.
Also on the Main Card are three more matchups between ranked opponents.
In the lightweight division, #6-ranked Dan Hooker will face #8-ranked Benoit Saint Denis.
#9 Rafael Fiziev will face #14 Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight matchup.
#12 Tai Tuivasa will face #15 Tallison Teixeira in a heavyweight clash.
UFC 325 is already drawing heavy betting traffic with its quality card and championship matchup.
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UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes II Betting at Bookmaker
On Saturday, January 31, 2026, Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, Australia, will host UFC 325 Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2. Main Card action starts at 9 p.m. ET with coverage on Paramount+.
UFC 325 Main Card Matchups and Odds
Featherweight Title Bout
C-Alexander Volkanovski -162 vs. #2 Diego Lopes +126
Alexander Volkanovski has a career record of 27-4. In comparison, Diego Lopes stands at 27-7 for his career.
Alexander Volkanovski is the current and 2-time featherweight champion. Volkanovski also fought for the UFC lightweight championship. Additionally, Volkanovski is the first Australian native to win a UFC title belt.
Volkanovski is a national hero in Australia, making him a natural marquee man for this event, which is expected to draw an overflow crowd. Ticket demand has been a stampede, and there will be plenty of betting traffic on “The Great.”
Of great concern is that Volkanovski has not provided reliable betting value recently. He has dropped three of his last five bouts. But his last bout was one of, if not the biggest, wins of his career. On April 12, 2025, Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes for the vacant UFC featherweight title in Miami, FL.
Previously, on February 17, 2024, Volkanovski lost a 2nd-round knockout to Ilia Topuria in Anaheim, CA. That fight was for the UFC featherweight title.
On October 21, 2023, Volkanovski lost a 1st-round knockout against Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi. That fight was for the UFC lightweight title.
Initially, Volkanovski won the UFC featherweight title against Max Holloway by split decision on December 14, 2019. He successfully defended his title four times.
Last time out, Diego Lopes won a 2nd-round TKO against Jean Silva on September 13, 2025, in San Antonio, TX. Previously, Lopes lost that aforementioned championship bout to Alexander Volkanovski. That defeat snapped a 5-bout winning streak.
Lightweight Bout
#6 Dan Hooker +220 vs. #8 Benoit Saint Denis -295
Dan Hooker has a career record of 24-13. Benoit Saint Denis brings a career record of 16-3 with 1 NC to the octagon.
Lightweight Bout
#9 Rafael Fiziev -120 vs. #14 Mauricio -106
Rafael Fiziev has a career mark of 13-4. In turn, Mauricio Ruffy is 12-2 for his career.
Heavyweight Bout
#12 Taj Tuivasa +250 vs. Tallison Teixeira -340
Taj Tuivasa has a career record of 15-8. In comparison, Tallison Teixeira is 8-1 for his career.
UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes II Best Bets
In this situation, Volkanovski has vastly more championship fight experience and a deeper resume compared to Lopes. He will also have a large and passionate sellout crowd backing him. Volkanovski is the justifiable favorite at a reasonable price.
UFC 325 Main Pick: Alexander Volkanovski
UFC 325 Fighter Prop Pick: Alexander Volkanovski to Win by Decision
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