"Volkanovski came away with the win that night in Miami. He also came away with the UFC's featherweight championship for the second time in his career. Saturday at UFC 325 marks his first title defense since then, while Lopes has fought once in between, defeating Jean Silva at last September's Noche UFC. The pairing comes while other contenders including Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy sit waiting. Silva, meanwhile, got back in the win column last week."
"Volkanovski has an interesting field of options ahead of him should he win on Saturday. One would be to simply retire, at home in Australia. Volk is one of the rare older champs in the lighter weight classes, and at 37, one way or another, his run is coming to an end. If he choses to fight on, should he defeat Lopes a second time, there's the obvious choices of Murphy or Evloev, which is the obvious next step."
Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes met in the UFC 325 main event in a rematch of their UFC 314 encounter. Volkanovski previously beat Lopes in Miami and regained the featherweight championship for a second time. UFC 325 represents Volkanovski's first title defense while Lopes entered after defeating Jean Silva at last September's Noche UFC. Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy remain waiting as potential challengers, and Jean Silva returned to the win column last week. Volkanovski, age 37, could retire, pursue rematches with Murphy or Evloev, target Silva or Yair Rodriguez, or chase Ilia Topuria or a lightweight title. A Lopes victory would leave featherweight wide open. Dana White did not attend the post-fight press conference; main-card winners appeared.
Read at Cageside Press
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