Volkanovski Believes Style Makes Him a Nightmare Matchup for Lopes
Alexander Volkanovski remains confident in his ability to defeat Diego Lopes, attributing his success to a stylistic mismatch that favors him. Following his unanimous decision victory over Lopes at UFC 325 on February 1, 2026, in Sydney, Australia, Volkanovski suggested Lopes faces inherent challenges when competing against him.
Volkanovski Highlights IQ and Footwork
Volkanovski expressed that his fight IQ and footwork present significant hurdles for Lopes. “I feel terrible because I’m probably the worst possible matchup for the guy just because of my IQ and my footwork and whatnot that he just couldn’t handle,” he stated during an appearance on the MightyCast, as reported by CBS Sports. He believes Lopes’ opportunities to claim the featherweight title were diminished by this stylistic disadvantage.
Rematch Timing and Lack of Improvement
Volkanovski too questioned the timing of the rematch, less than a year after their first encounter. He suggested that the quick turnaround didn’t benefit Lopes. Volkanovski indicated he didn’t observe significant improvement in Lopes’ strategy between the two fights. “Hearing him say that he’s grown so much, I’m looking at him like you haven’t,” Volkanovski said. “I don’t mean this in a bad way I just mean you haven’t showed me any improvement. I felt like what you did in the first fight was better than that.”
Statistical Breakdown of Both Fights
The statistics from both fights appear to support Volkanovski’s assessment. At UFC 314, Volkanovski outlanded Lopes 158 to 63 in significant strikes, and 165 to 71 in total strikes. At UFC 325, Volkanovski still maintained a striking advantage, landing 98 significant strikes to Lopes’ 70, and 112 total strikes to 74. While Lopes did close the gap in striking output in the rematch, Volkanovski still won the majority of the rounds, securing a unanimous decision victory as detailed in ESPN’s UFC 325 fight results.
What’s Next for Diego Lopes?
The question remains as to what the future holds for Diego Lopes after his second loss to Alexander Volkanovski. The UFC 325 event showcased Volkanovski’s continued dominance in the featherweight division, leaving Lopes to consider his next move within the organization.