Diego Lopes Thinks Alexander Volkanovski is Making a “BIG” Mistake at UFC 325
Alexander Volkanovski returns to Sydney this weekend to defend his featherweight championship against Diego Lopes at UFC 325, but the challenger believes the champion’s aggressive strategy could backfire in their rematch.
Diego Lopes Thinks Alexander Volkanovski Might Be Making a mistake at UFC 325
Speaking at the pre-fight press conference, Lopes warned that if Volkanovski commits to a more forward-pressing approach, he may be walking into danger. “Both of us have more confidence now, I feel his power, he feels my power, so I think this fight will be even better than the first one,” Lopes said.
“But if he really tries to pressure me, if he thinks he’s just going to bulldoze me, I think this is a big mistake for him. When guys try to pressure me too much, they give me the openings I like. So if he comes forward more, I’m happy, because that’s when I can do my best work.”
The comments respond to Volkanovski’s recent declarations about taking a more aggressive stance in their rematch. The Australian champion has teased a “bulldozing” performance at UFC 325, suggesting he can finish the fight if he takes calculated risks. “I do believe that. If I want to grab a hold of someone and really grab hold of them, I’m going to rag doll them,” Volkanovski said at media day. “He’s going to come aggressively at me. Obviously, I know he’s going to be looking for the big counter, so we’ll be wary of that. But at the same time, come at me like that, there’s going to be some big shots coming your way.”
Their first meeting at UFC 314 in April 2025 saw Volkanovski reclaim the vacant featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory, outstriking Lopes 158 to 63 in significant strikes. The 36-year-old became the first fighter over 35 to capture a UFC championship at welterweight or below. However, the fight produced tense moments, including a second-round knockdown when Lopes connected with an overhand right, and a fourth-round uppercut that visibly troubled the champion.
Lopes enters the rematch having made significant adjustments to his preparation. The 31-year-old Brazilian established a private training facility to eliminate distractions and has spent three consecutive camps preparing specifically for Volkanovski, including during his knockout victory over Jean Silva at Noche UFC in September 2025.
“I made many mistakes in the first fight with Volk. I tried only to finish with one big hit, one big punch. After the second round when I dropped him, I felt like I had the power for finishing, so I only looked for this. I forgot many things in my game plan. I think I fixed this in the training camp.”
The 37-year-old Volkanovski, who holds a 27-4 record with seven featherweight title fight victories, has emphasized that retirement remains far from his mind despite speculation. Oddsmakers favor the champion at -148, with Lopes listed as a +124 underdog.
