Alexander Volkanovski retains his UFC featherweight title with a unanimous determination over Diego Lopes in Australia.
In entrance of a deafening Sydney crowd, Ultimate Battling Championship featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski survived a fifth-spherical rally attempt from Diego Lopes to rep but every other unanimous determination (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) of their rematch at UFC 325.
Compatible take care of their first meeting ultimate April at UFC 314, Lopes (27-8 MMA, or blended martial arts, 6-3 UFC) would no longer let Volkanovski (28-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) waft with out issues, as the vital three rounds on Sunday saw Lopes dangle Volkanovski’s only shots and bring some of his possess. But Volkanovski retaliated with adjustments at some stage in, utilising the clinch to gash Lopes’s cage room off.
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Volkanovski’s rep used to be his first title defence at some stage in his 2nd reign, ushering in a reinvigorated technology at featherweight transferring forward.
But for Volkanovski, a success his first fight in his dwelling country in almost three years with the stout backing of the Australian crowd felt heaps of.
“I didn’t are searching to face [with Lopes] for 25 minutes, however we bought the job finished,” Volkanovski acknowledged.
Volkanovski acknowledged he used to be enraged to procure attend within the Octagon soon, announcing he would “watch what’s subsequent” with his crew.
Lopes used to be humble in defeat, although he had a considered reaction to the one prefer who dominated all five rounds in Volkanovski’s favour.
“I deem Volkanovski is one of the single within the division and has been for this long,” the Brazilian competitor acknowledged.
Lopes called this piece of the hump “step-by-step” as he prepares for an unsure subsequent fight after his 2nd failed championship match against the future Corridor of Reputation member.
Saint-Denis overpowers Hooker
In the meantime, lightweight Benoit Saint-Denis of France simply defeated Recent Zealand’s Dan Hooker by 2nd-spherical technical knockout (TKO) within the night’s co-significant match with punches from the mount station.
Saint-Denis (17-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) has attach himself in a firm station to remain in title contention this 365 days with four straight wins, while Hooker (24-14 MMA, 14-10 UFC) has dropped attend-to-attend fights and can proceed to jog attend to the planning stage.
A devastating accurate hand from lightweight Mauricio Ruffy of Brazil marked the beginning of the conclude of a excessive-stakes featured bout opposite Rafael Fiziev of Azerbaijan. Ruffy (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) secured a TKO victory with 30 seconds left within the 2nd spherical, bouncing attend from a loss to Saint-Denis for his eighth rep within the ultimate nine fights.
As for Fiziev (13-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC), he has lost four of his ultimate five outings since his six-match rep lunge used to be snapped in March 2023.
The UFC would not have a numbered match scheduled in February, with UFC 326 scheduled for March 7 in Las Vegas. The promotion returns to Las Vegas subsequent Saturday for its first UFC Battle Night match of the 365 days from the Meta APEX (formerly UFC APEX).
