Alexander Volkanovski proved once again why he sits at the top of the featherweight division, but his dominant win at UFC 325 came at a cost fans never saw coming.
For the second time in 10 months, Volkanovski outclassed Diego Lopes over five rounds, securing a unanimous decision in their UFC 325 rematch. The champion delivered a trademark performance, shutting down Lopes’ grappling, controlling the pace, and landing sharp, damaging strikes whenever openings appeared.
The victory marked another return-to-form moment for Volkanovski after snapping his first UFC skid last year. Yet behind the scenes, the featherweight king entered fight week far from 100 percent.
Volkanovski’s longtime coach Joe Lopez revealed backstage that the bout was nearly called off altogether.
“To be fair, Alex, four weeks ago, we didn’t think he was going to fight,” Lopez told Daniel Cormier.
“He pulled his shoulder out, really. He’s been compromised for the last four weeks with a busted shoulder.”
Despite the injury, Volkanovski never showed signs of discomfort inside the Octagon. He stayed composed under pressure and consistently won the exchanges, neutralizing Lopes’ size and power across all five rounds.
According to Lopez, the biggest adjustment heading into UFC 325 wasn’t physical, it was mental.
“Volk was sort of second-guessing himself the whole of the first Diego camp,” Lopez explained.
“With this camp, Volk was back to himself. He was confident, didn’t have to say anything. It was just old Volk back again.”
At 37, Volkanovski continues to defy expectations and rewrite the record books. He now stands as the oldest fighter to successfully defend the UFC featherweight title, with no signs of slowing down.
Looking ahead, Volkanovski is expected to face the winner of the upcoming clash between Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, a bout that could determine the next title challenger. And while questions about longevity always linger at this stage of a career, his team isn’t rushing the end.
“Maybe we can get another four [fights] out of him,” Lopez said.
For now, Volkanovski remains firmly on his throne, injured shoulder and all, ready for whoever the UFC puts in front of him next.
