UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2: Preview, Odds & How to Watch

The start of 2026 is very intense in the UFC with title fights aplenty. On February 1, the UFC Featherweight Championship will be on the line in a highly anticipated rematch. It’s Alexander ‘the Great’ Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes for the 2nd time. The UFC 325 event will mark UFC’s return to the Land Down Under and is scheduled to feature hometown hero Volkanovski, defending his belt at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

The Aussie did capture the belt against Lopes in their first meeting last year. After a few setbacks against Makhachev and Topuria, the legendary Aussie will seek to cement his legacy. Standing in his way is a dangerous Diego Lopes, following a highlight-reel win against Jean Silva. All of this promises us, the fans, a true cracker of a showdown.

UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2: Fight Details

• • Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026 (AEDT), early morning GMT
  • Time: The main card is expected to start around 2 AM GMT
  • Location: Qudos Bank Arena – Sydney, Australia
  • At stake: UFC Featherweight title
  • Betting available at 7bet UK

While ‘Volk’ is the definite fan favourite and the hometown golden boy, Lopes took him the whole 5 rounds last time, and Volkanovski only won by decision. Maybe this time, he can return the favour or even KO the reigning champ?

UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2: Betting

In this section of the preview, we will look at the UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 betting odds. Please remember that they are accurate at the time of writing this preview and could move in either direction before the event. 

Disclaimer: Know this Before Placing UFC 325 Bets

Odds can be long (e.g. 5/1) or short (e.g. 3/10). Longer odds show an event/pick that the bookmaker considers less likely to happen or win. On the other hand, shorter odds display the favourite in the books.

With that being said, probabilities and odds aren’t guarantees, so gamble responsibly. 

Winner

This market is also called the ‘Outright winner’ and focuses only on who comes out on top. The method of victory doesn’t matter. So, the fighter you back should win by decision, KO/TKO, submission or stoppage for the bet to cash. 

As of now, Volkanovski has the edge in the books with 3/5 odds or around 62.5% implied chance. Nevertheless, his opponent is dangerous, and while Lopes is listed as the underdog, no one should underestimate him too much. 

Will the Fight Go the Distance?

This market is oriented towards the length of the fight. Championship bouts in UFC last 5 rounds of 5 minutes each. Bet “Yes” if you think that Volk vs Lopes will go to the judge’s or “No”, if you believe that it’s going to be a KO, submission or stoppage victory for either of the two. Who wins in the end doesn’t matter; it’s only the length of the fight that counts.

As of now, ‘No’ is priced as the more likely of the two outcomes with around a 61% chance. Yet, last time out, it was only a UD (Unanimous Decision) victory for Volkanovski, so wager cautiously. 

Round Total

The ‘Round Total’ market offers the Under and Over picks with specific thresholds. Bettors can choose one of the outcomes based on how long they think the bout is going to last. For example, by picking ‘Over 3.5’, you’re predicting that there’s going to be at least a 4th round. On the other hand, picking ‘Under 3.5’ means you expect a KO or early finish before the end of the 3rd.

As of now, before UFC 325, ‘Over 2.5’ and ‘Over 3.5’ have the shortest odds from the lot. 

Other Popular Markets

As the fight night for UFC 325 is steadily approaching, the list of available betting markets can get broader. In this part of the preview, we’ll look at some other popular markets that are usually available at 7bet for pre-fight UFC betting. 

• Winning Method – also called ‘Fight Outcome’, this market allows players to pick how they think the fight is going to be won. You can choose KO/TKO, submission or judge scorecards (Decision). Usually, these bets require you to pick both the fighter and the method, so the risk is higher, but so is the reward.
• IN-PLAY Betting – if you are watching UFC events live, 7bet has an IN-PLAY betting platform where you can wager while the bout is going on. Take advantage of your insights and make insurance for previous bets or double down on what you think is going to profit. Still, bet IN-PLAY responsibly.
• Winner & Exact Rounds – if you opt for this market, you need to correctly guess the winner & the exact round or round interval, in which the bout is going to end. Typically, picks look like Volkanovski in Rounds 2 or 3, Lopes in Rounds 3 and 4, and so on.
• Specific Combo Props – in addition to these picks, you can also find combo picks like Volkanovski to win by KO in Rounds 4-5, Lopes to win by submission in Round 3, etc. Such picks are hard to get right, but they tend to offer bigger returns.

Alexander Volkanovski – “Alexander the Great” 

Record: 27-4 (13 wins by KO) – Current Featherweight Champion

The 37-year-old Aussie is the UFC’s biggest name from the Land Down Under. A two-time Featherweight champion, with a professional record of 27-4, Volkanovski has proven to be one of the most dominant fighters in his weight class throughout UFC history. He held the 145-lb title from 2019 to 2024 with five successful title defences, something only a few legends have been able to do in the UFC.

While Volk defeated Max Holloway three times, took down Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez, his follow-up career decisions tarnished his legacy a bit. In 2023 and early 2024, Volkanovski moved up in weight to challenge Islam Makhachev. He lost. What followed was another loss, this one even tougher as he had to vacate the featherweight belt to Ilia Topuria via KO.

While losing to Islam and Topuria isn’t something to be ashamed of, Volk had to rebound big time if he wanted to retain his status as a great. That’s what the Ausie did by defeating Diego Lopes by UD to reclaim the title. This made Volkanovski the first male UFC fighter over age 35 to win a title in the lighter weight classes.

In the octagon, Volkanovski is a well-rounded tactical striker with great cardio and superb fight IQ. Known for his leg kick volume and range control, the Aussie champ also has solid defensive grappling. He’s rarely seen being taken down and tends to survive deep submission attempts. If Volk is as motivated as ever, he should deliver a statement performance in front of his home fans.

Alexander Volkanovski – Last 5 Fights

Diego Lopes

Record: 27-7 (15 First Round Finishes)

As a 30-year-old challenger, Lopes might have a perfect combo of hunger and experience to challenge Volk in this highly anticipated rematch. A relative newcomer to the UFC, the Brazilian quickly established himself by going on a 2-year, 5-win streak. It included 

• Armbar submission of veteran Gavin Tucker 
• TKO of Pat Sabatini 
• Knockout of Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300 
• Decision victories over Dan Ige and Brian Ortega

While these wins propelled Lopes into title contention, the Brazilian lost out to Volk in April of last year, coming up short on the scorecards. While Lopes definitely landed shots that visibly tested Volkanovski, the challenger needed a rebound to get back into contention.

This came in the form of a spectacular Round 2 TKO over Jean Silva, solidifying him as the #2 Featherweight. He’s riding the momentum and should be better prepared to take on Volk. In the octagon, Lopes is very explosive and a well-rounded finisher. At 5’11” (180 cm) tall with a 72.5” reach, he has the physical advantage over his opponent. The track record also shows that Lopes is extremely dangerous both on his feet and on the mat. However, the Brazilian will need to catch Alexander the Great and force him to submit early rather than expecting to win with the judges.

Paddy Pimblett – Last 5 Fights

Tale of the Tape

Key Factors to Watch

• Battle of styles – Volk will likely return to the onslaught of calf kicks and feints to slow down Lopes. On the other hand, the Brazilian had his best moments when he pressed forward. He might fancy an aggressive start, despite the greater risk.
• Will Lopes have the advantage on the ground? Volk’s offensive wrestling is often underrated. If the champ wants to avoid a firefight, he can very well slow things down. For Lopes, BJJ skills shouldn’t be overvalued, but the challenger could try to snatch a neck in a clinch or grab a guillotine if Volk shoots lazily.

How to Watch UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 in the UK?

Here are the ways to watch UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 in the UK:

• TNT Sports PPV
• Discovery+ Stream, as TNT Sports can be integrated
• UFC Fight Pass

FAQ

How Much Will the Fighters Make from this Fight?

Official purses aren’t disclosed publicly, but as a reigning champ and a global star, Volk should earn in the range of $1-2 million (or more) after bonuses and PPV points. As for Lopes, he should see something on the order of $200,000-$500,000, including base pay and potential bonus/PPV upside.

What Adjustments from the Fighters Can We Expect to See in the Rematch?

Volk could mix in more wrestling. In addition, the champ knows that Lopes faded slightly down the stretch last time, so he might save his best for last.

As for the challenger, he mentioned that his approach might change, too. We might see more volume combos from Lopes and surprises of bursts. 

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