Alexander Volkanovski delivered a decisive assertion at UFC 325 on Saturday, efficiently defending his featherweight title in opposition to Diego Lopes by unanimous determination in Sydney. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45, marking the primary protection of his second championship reign and tying Jose Aldo’s report for many title-fight wins in featherweight historical past.
Alexander Volkanovski on His Next Match
Following the victory, Volkanovski made his expectations clear about future challengers. “I’m an easy champ to understand, man. If you deserve it, you’re next,” he said during the post-fight press conference. “I’ve never been the guy trying to protect anything or pick and choose. You go out there, you beat the right guys, you earn your spot, and I’ll be there waiting for you. What I don’t like is people trying to skip the queue. You can’t just cut the line because you talk loud or had one good night. There’s killers in this division who have been grinding for years for that opportunity.”
The Australian champion expressed frustration with fighters attempting to bypass legitimate contenders. “I’ve always said the same thing: give me the worthy contender. I built my legacy on taking out number one contenders, not on chasing the easiest name or the biggest headline,” Volkanovski explained. “So if you want that shot, go handle your business. Don’t look for shortcuts. Don’t ask to jump over guys who’ve been doing it longer and doing it against tougher opposition. You want the champ, you’ve got to earn the champ.”
Volkanovski clarified his criteria for determining the next challenger extends beyond official rankings. “I don’t care about rankings on paper as much as I care about what you’ve actually done. Are you beating top guys? Are you taking out other contenders? That’s what matters,” he stated. “If you’re ranked eleven and you’ve knocked off three killers in a row, we can talk. But if you’re trying to talk your way into a shot while other guys are out there doing the hard yards, I’m not really interested in letting that happen.”
At 37 years outdated, the champion emphasised his dedication to remaining lively whereas being selective about matchups. “I nonetheless need to be lively. I don’t need to sit round and wait. However on the similar time, I’m not in a rush to simply combat anybody for the sake of it,” Volkanovski stated. “At this stage of my profession, each combat has to imply one thing. It has to maneuver my legacy ahead, it needs to be a problem that excites me, and it needs to be in opposition to somebody who’s actually earned the appropriate to share that cage with me.”
When requested about particular opponents, Volkanovski recognized undefeated Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy as his most well-liked choices. “You’ve received Movsar and Lerone Murphy. I’ve been informed they’re going to face one another. I don’t know if these are simply rumors, however that’ll be nice. I’ll be watching that. If my subsequent one is unquestionably featherweight, it’s gotta be a type of two,” he informed reporters.
The UFC answered Volkanovski’s call just days later. On Monday, the promotion officially announced that Evloev and Murphy will meet in the primary occasion of UFC Combat Night time on March 21 on the O2 Area in London. The winner is anticipated to earn the following title shot in opposition to Volkanovski. Evloev, ranked primary within the division, carries an ideal 19-0 report into the bout, whereas Murphy sits at quantity three with a 17-0-1 mark and a nine-fight successful streak courting again to a 2019 draw.
Evloev has not competed since December 2024, when he defeated former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling by decision at UFC 310. His resume includes wins over Sterling, Diego Lopes, and British contender Arnold Allen. Murphy last fought in August at UFC 319, where he stopped Aaron Pico with a spinning back elbow in the first round, earning widespread recognition as a knockout of the year candidate.
“My legacy is built on consistency. It’s not just one big win or one big night; it’s turning up again and again, taking the toughest fights, and still finding a way to get your hand raised,” Volkanovski reflected. “People can say what they want, but you can’t argue with a body of work. That’s why I want worthy contenders, because every time I beat one, it adds another strong chapter to that story.”
