Background
After the Paramount era got off to a bang last weekend with Justin Gaethje defeating Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title, attention now turns to Australia and the heavily anticipated rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.
Volkanovski currently holds the featherweight title after defeating Lopes in April 2025, after Ilia Topuria had vacated it to move up to the lightweight division.
Before being defeated by Topuria, Volkanovski had held the title for 1526 days, defeating the likes of Brian Ortega and Max Holloway on the way to securing five title defenses.
As for Lopes, he caught the eye of MMA fans in 2021 after losing via technical decision, due to an eye poke, against Joanderson Brito on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Despite his chance for a contract being cut short, the UFC eventually signed him, and he made his debut on five days’ notice against Movsar Evloev in May 2023.
Lopes then went on to defeat Ortega and Jean Silva to earn a shot at the gold, losing out via unanimous decision over five rounds.
But Lopes is determined to capture the title and this time maybe his fortunes will change…
Fighting Styles
The first fight offered up an intriguing stylistic battle between two high-level strikers, and the rematch is sure to be no different.
Volkanovski adopts a high-pressure approach to most of his fights, showcasing great work in the clinch, but also his ability to transition from long-range strikes to powerful shots on the inside is extremely effective.
Inspired by his earlier years playing rugby, Volkanovski has great footwork and uses this to fool his opponents into a false sense of security. His use of the low left kick to set up heavier strikes is a nightmare for any of his opponents to defend against.
In contrast, Lopes has a fighting style that descends from his experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, with an emphasis on heavy striking and also submissions if necessary.
Lopes has secured three knockout victories and one submission in his seven UFC bouts, emphasising his explosive fighting style. Since being in the UFC Lopes has improved his stand-up game, also, with many fighters being wary of going to the ground with him.
Although Volkanovski has great takedown defence, it is possible that Lopes will switch up his game plan in the rematch and opt for a higher-pressure approach, culminating in him taking Volkanovski to the ground, where he won’t really want to be.
Future
The featherweight division is getting more competitive year-by-year, and 2026 looks set to provide more huge fights in the division.
There is a host of names who think they are worthy of a title shot in the division, most notably Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, who look set to collide at some point in the coming year.
Elsewhere, Jean Silva defeated Arnold Allen on the UFC 324 undercard to throw his name firmly into the hat for a title shot. And you can’t disregard the former Bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling, who has impressed since moving weight classes.
Once you add the likes of Youssef Zalal and Kevin Vallejos, you have a highly competitive division, but one that both Volkanovski and Lopes will want to reign over.
Prediction
Much like the first fight, this bout is a difficult one to predict on paper, with Volkanovski being a dominant force for so long in the UFC and Lopes being an enigma in regard to his approach to fights.
I think, however, I am going to side with the Brazilian Lopes to make his dreams come true and capture the featherweight gold.
Volkanovski has been fighting at the top level of MMA with the UFC for almost 10 years, and that is sure to take a toll on him, especially considering his recent knockout defeats to Islam Makhachev and Topuria.
I believe Lopes will try and use this to his advantage and obtain a higher-pressure approach in this fight. In my opinion, Lopes will immediately try and fight on the front foot, not allowing Volkanovski to find his range and find those dangerous inside shots.
Lopes hurt Volkanovksi in the first fight but was unable to find a finish, but this time I think he will capitalize on these big shots and find a finish in the championship rounds.
Alexander Volkanovski takes on Diego Lopes on Sunday, 1 February, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
My name is Jack Latham.
I am 20 years old and am currently studying Sports Journalism at the University of Chester.
I became interested in combat sports, particularly MMA, in the lockdown period and have followed it closely ever since.
I have previously created my own website titled ‘Combat Corner,’ where I produce MMA content.