The UFC flyweight division has a new contender.  Lone'er Kavanagh earned the biggest win of his c...

<p>The UFC flyweight division has a new contender.</p><p>Lone'er Kavanagh earned the biggest win of his career Saturday, defeating former champion Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) in the UFC Fight Night main event at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.</p><p>Kavanagh, a 26-year-old from London, England, was unranked heading into the fight, but will skyrocket into the top 10 after beating Moreno, who was ranked No. 6 coming in.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"I said before the fight: I live for legendary moments, and this is a legendary moment," Kavanagh said in his postfight interview. "Brandon is a legend. Two-time world champ. And I'm a big fan. I watched him when I was a kid, and to get to fight him is amazing."</p><p>Kavanagh stepped in on less than four weeks' notice after Asu Almabayev withdrew from the UFC Mexico main event due to an injury.</p><p>Kavanagh used crisp striking, speed, and power to batter Moreno on the feet throughout the fight. He outlanded his opponent 97-79 in significant strikes and stuffed all eight of Moreno's takedown attempts.</p><p>With the victory, Kavanagh improved to 3-1 in the promotion. He was coming off a knockout loss to Charles Johnson at UFC Shanghai last August.</p><p>Moreno suffered his second straight defeat. The 32-year-old Tijuana native also lost to Tatsuro Taira via second-round TKO at UFC 323 in December. Moreno is 2-3 in his last five Octagon appearances.</p>

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 28: (L-R) Lone'er Kavanagh of England punches Brandon Moreno of Mexico in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Arena CDMX on February 28, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Kavanagh upsets Moreno in UFC Mexico main event

Former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena is returning to action on home soil.  Della...

<p>Former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena is returning to action on home soil.</p><p>Della Maddalena will square off with Carlos Prates in the main event of UFC Perth on May 2 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, the promotion announced Saturday.</p><p>The bout marks Della Maddalena's first appearance since losing the 170-pound title in a lopsided defeat to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 last November. The 29-year-old Perth native topped Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 last May to become the champion. Della Maddalena holds an 8-1 record in the Octagon, including five wins inside the distance.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Prates, the No. 5-ranked welterweight, is coming off back-to-back knockout victories that cemented him as one of the top contenders in the weight class. The 32-year-old Brazilian finished Geoff Neal with a spinning back elbow at UFC 319 last August and then stopped former champion Leon Edwards in brutal fashion at UFC 322. Prates is 6-1 in the promotion, with all of his wins ending by knockout.</p>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Jack Della Maddalena of Australia enters the Octagon in the UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 322 event at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2025 in New York City.

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Della Maddalena-Prates set for UFC Perth main event

A rematch between boxing legends Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will take place Sept. 19...

<p>A rematch between boxing legends Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will take place Sept. 19 at Sphere in Las Vegas, Netflix announced Monday.</p><p>The bout will be the first-ever professional boxing match at Sphere, the state-of-the-art arena that opened in 2023 and held a major UFC event in 2024. The fight will stream live on Netflix.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">FLOYD MAYWEATHER vs. MANNY PACQUIAO<br><br>Two of the greatest icons in boxing history will meet again in the first-ever professional boxing match at Sphere in Las Vegas.<br><br>Saturday September 19<br>LIVE globally only on Netflix<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayPac2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MayPac2</a> <a href="https://t.co/3i5FtXBzgX">pic.twitter.com/3i5FtXBzgX</a></p>— Netflix (@netflix) <a href="https://twitter.com/netflix/status/2026041245093491045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Mayweather <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3482599" href="https://thescore.com/news/3482599">announced</a> last week that he plans to come out of retirement and resume his professional boxing career following his exhibition bout against Mike Tyson, which is <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3480161" href="https://thescore.com/news/3480161">scheduled</a> to take place April 25 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mayweather retired in 2017 with a 50-0 record but has competed in several exhibitions since then, including against Logan Paul in 2021. He turns 49 on Tuesday.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Pacquiao, 47, returned from a four-year retirement last July, fighting Mario Barrios to a majority draw in a WBC welterweight title fight. He's <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3480753" href="https://thescore.com/news/3480753">scheduled to face</a> Ruslan Provodnikov in an exhibition match April 18 in Las Vegas.</p><p>Mayweather defeated Pacquiao in a long-awaited championship bout in 2015. The fight generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 26: Floyd Mayweather Jr. walks to his corner while taking on Conor McGregor during their super welterweight boxing match on August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 set for Sept. 19 at Sphere

For the first time in his career, Ryan Garcia is a world champion.  Garcia dominated Mario Barrio...

<p>For the first time in his career, Ryan Garcia is a world champion.</p><p>Garcia dominated Mario Barrios to capture the WBC welterweight title Saturday night, earning a unanimous decision victory at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.</p><p>The judges scored the fight 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109 in Garcia's favor.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Garcia outclassed Barrios from start to finish. He set the tone with a knockdown in the opening 30 seconds, dropping Barrios with a huge right hand. He went on to outland Barrios 185-106 in total punches and 103-43 in power shots.</p><p>Surprisingly, Garcia's right hand was a major factor in the fight. He stunned Barrios early in the fifth round with another right and then unleashed a barrage of punches.</p><p>With the victory, not only did Garcia earn his first world championship - he also rebounded from a disappointing loss to Rolly Romero last May at Times Square in New York.</p><p>The 28-year-old is now 2-1 (1 NC) in his past four appearances and 25-2 (1 NC) as a professional.</p><p>In his postfight interview, Garcia said he wants to take on Shakur Stevenson next. Stevenson beat Teofimo Lopez Jr. last month to claim the WBO junior welterweight championship. He was ringside and also expressed interest in the matchup.</p><p>"Shakur Stevenson, let's go," Garcia said. "Let's run that shit. Hey, I want to be a great champion. I'm not scared of shit. ... Let's f-----g go."</p><p>Barrios had held the WBC welterweight title since June 2024 and was coming off a majority draw against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao last July. The 30-year-old fell to a career 29-3-2 with the loss.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 21: Ryan Garcia (L) punchesWBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in the fourth round of a title fight at T-Mobile Arena on February 21, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garcia took the tile by unanimous decision.

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Garcia dominates Barrios to win 1st world title

The UFC continued to roll out its spring lineup Saturday, announcing a pair of main events.  Welt...

<p>The UFC continued to roll out its spring lineup Saturday, announcing a pair of main events.</p><p>Welterweight contenders Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley will headline UFC Fight Night on April 25 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.</p><p>Additionally, lightweights Renato Moicano and Chris Duncan will meet in the main event of the April 4 Fight Night card at the same venue.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Brady, the No. 6-ranked fighter in the 170-pound division, is looking to bounce back from a first-round TKO loss to Michael Morales at UFC 322 last November. Brady was previously riding three-fight winning streak that included a submission of former champion Leon Edwards at UFC London last March.</p><p>Buckley, ranked No. 9, is coming off a unanimous decision loss to ex-champ Kamaru Usman in the UFC Atlanta main event last June. The defeat snapped Buckley's six-fight winning streak.</p><p>Moicano, the No. 10-ranked contender at 155 pounds, is seeking his first win since finishing Benoit Saint Denis in September 2024. The Brazilian lost back-to-back fights against then-lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush last year.</p><p>Duncan will attempt to crack into the top 15 with a win over Moicano. The 32-year-old Scottish fighter is coming off a first-round submission of Terrance McKinney at UFC 323 in December and has won four straight.</p>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Sean Brady enters the Octagon in a welterweight fight during the UFC 322 event at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2025 in New York City.

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Brady-Buckley, Moicano-Duncan set for April UFC main events

Warning: Story contains coarse language  Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland returne...

<p><em>Warning: Story contains coarse language</em></p><p>Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland returned to the win column Saturday night with one of the best performances of his career.</p><p>Strickland finished surging contender Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez via TKO at the 2:33 mark of the third round in the UFC Houston main event at the Toyota Center.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F917198177355871%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></figure><p>Strickland stepped into the Octagon for the first time since a title-fight loss to Dricus Du Plessis last February and earned his first win since June 2024. It was also Strickland's first knockout victory since he beat Abus Magomedov in July 2023.</p><p>The finishing sequence began when Strickland hurt Hernandez with a knee to the body. Strickland pressed forward and unleashed a vicious combination of punches. He landed a few uppercuts and then a right hand that put Hernandez on the ground. Strickland followed up with ground-and-pound, forcing referee Herb Dern to wave off the fight.</p><p>After the win, Strickland said he wants a title shot at Khamzat Chimaev next. Strickland was ranked No. 3 and Hernandez was No. 4 entering Saturday's bout.</p><p>"(If) Chimaev gets off the bench, I'd like a piece of that little Chechen whore," Strickland said in his postfight interview. "But you never know with him. You never know with that guy. But that's what I want."</p><p>Strickland dictated the action throughout the main event, winning the first two rounds on all three judges' scorecards. He fought well behind his jab, controlling the distance and outlanding Hernandez 110-55 in significant strikes. Strickland stuffed his opponent's only takedown attempt.</p><p>The 34-year-old American has alternated wins and losses in his past five outings, dating back to his title win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in September 2023.</p><p>Hernandez's eight-fight winning streak came to an end. It was the 32-year-old's first loss since a knockout against Kevin Holland in May 2020.</p>

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 21: Sean Strickland reacts after a TKO victory against Anthony Hernandez in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Toyota Center on February 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

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Strickland stuns Hernandez with TKO in UFC Houston main event

"The Doctor" has arrived.  Welterweight Uros Medic made a statement in the UFC Houston co-main ev...

<p>"The Doctor" has arrived.</p><p>Welterweight Uros Medic made a statement in the UFC Houston co-main event, knocking out Geoff Neal with a vicious left hook in the first round Saturday night.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">UROS MEDIC WITH THE KNOCKOUT OF THE NIGHT! He flatlined Geoff Neal in just 1 RD😮‍💨😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/zYbXR4tIsJ">pic.twitter.com/zYbXR4tIsJ</a></p>— The MMA Archives (@Themmaarchives) <a href="https://twitter.com/Themmaarchives/status/2025413733887951274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Medic has now won three in a row, all via first-round knockout.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"Houston, we have a problem," he said in his postfight interview. "And it's me - I am the problem."</p><p>The 32-year-old Serbian added that he wants to face off with former champion Leon Edwards next.</p><p>Neal, 35, has now lost back-to-back fights by knockout and four of his last five bouts overall.</p>

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 21: Uros Medic reacts after knocking out Geoff Neal in a welterweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Toyota Center on February 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

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Watch: Medic stiffens Neal with vicious KO, calls out Edwards

Melquizael Costa added a vicious finish to his highlight reel at UFC Houston.  The Brazilian feat...

<p>Melquizael Costa added a vicious finish to his highlight reel at UFC Houston.</p><p>The Brazilian featherweight landed a spinning back kick to Dan Ige's head and earned a TKO victory at the 4:56 mark of the first round Saturday night at the Toyota Center.</p><p>Costa became the first to finish Ige in 30 professional bouts.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">SPINNING SH** FOR THE WIN! 😱<br><br>Melquizael Costa becomes the first person to finish Dan Ige! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFCHouston?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFCHouston</a> | LIVE on TNT Sports &amp; discovery+ <a href="https://t.co/Dg6nJRypgf">pic.twitter.com/Dg6nJRypgf</a></p>— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufcontnt/status/2025408348149907915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Costa, 29, has now won six in a row and improved to a career 26-7. He called out former title challenger Diego Lopes in his postfight interview.</p>

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 21: Melquizael Costa of Brazil knocks out Dan Ige in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Toyota Center on February 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

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Watch: Costa TKOs Ige with spinning back kick at UFC Houston

A welterweight bout between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott will serve as the main event for a UFC ...

<p>A welterweight bout between Gilbert Burns and Mike Malott will serve as the main event for a UFC Fight Night card in Winnipeg on April 18, the promotion announced Friday.</p><p>Burns, a former title challenger, is looking to get back on track from a four-fight losing streak. The 39-year-old Brazilian hasn't won since a unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal in 2023.</p><p>Malott, who represents Burlington, Ontario, will be the first Canadian to headline a UFC event in nearly six years. The 34-year-old is coming off a victory over Kevin Holland last October and is riding a three-fight winning streak.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The UFC will hold an event in Manitoba's capital city for the first time since December 2017 and third time overall.</p>

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - OCTOBER 17: Mike Malott poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-ins at Rogers Arena on October 17, 2025 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Burns-Malott to headline UFC Winnipeg in April

Ronda Rousey is ending her 10-year retirement for a blockbuster showdown with Gina Carano.  The U...

<p>Ronda Rousey is ending her 10-year retirement for a blockbuster showdown with Gina Carano.</p><p>The UFC Hall of Famer and former women's bantamweight champion will face Carano in a professional MMA fight May 16 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Netflix announced Tuesday. Rousey-Carano will be contested at featherweight with five five-minute rounds.</p><p>It will be the first MMA event to stream on Netflix and be promoted by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two MMA legends are coming to Netflix.<br><br>RONDA ROUSEY vs. GINA CARANO<br>Saturday May 16<br>LIVE only on Netflix<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RouseyCarano?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RouseyCarano</a> <a href="https://t.co/zqdSC7l4in">pic.twitter.com/zqdSC7l4in</a></p>— Netflix (@netflix) <a href="https://twitter.com/netflix/status/2023759338335035524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Rousey, one of the biggest stars in MMA history, hasn't fought since December 2016 when she suffered a 48-second TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.</p><p>Rousey, 39, was the inaugural UFC women's bantamweight champion and defended the title six times between February 2013 and August 2015. Holly Holm dethroned Rousey with a head-kick knockout in November 2015 in what stands as one of the biggest upsets in the sport's history.</p><p>Carano, a pioneer of women's MMA, will step into the cage for the first time in almost 17 years. The 43-year-old fought professionally from 2006-09, compiling a 7-1 record and primarily competing under the Strikeforce and EliteXC banners. Carano retired after a knockout loss to Cris Cyborg in a fight for the inaugural Strikeforce women's featherweight title that marked the first time two women headlined a major MMA event.</p>

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Rousey returning to MMA to face Carano on May 16

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is interested in competing in combat sports once he's done playi...

<p>Boston Celtics star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/45455" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/45455">Jaylen Brown</a> is interested in competing in combat sports once he's done playing in the NBA.</p><p>Brown, 29, has even discussed the matter with UFC CEO Dana White, he told reporters Saturday at the NBA All-Star Game media day.</p><p>"To be honest, I've toyed with this, and I've talked to some people," Brown said, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47939125/celtics-jaylen-brown-toying-idea-ufc-boxing-nba">ESPN's Brett Okamoto</a>. "Maybe post part of my career, I'd love to partake in something like UFC or even boxing. I've talked to Dana White about some stuff, but we'll see as things go on. We'll see."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Several former NBA players have crossed over to combat sports, including Nate Robinson, who suffered a knockout loss to Jake Paul in 2020, and Deron Williams, who beat former NFL player Frank Gore in an exhibition boxing match in 2021.</p><p>Brown, a five-time NBA All-Star, won a championship and Finals MVP with the Celtics in 2024. This season, he's averaging 29.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.</p><p>Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla is a massive MMA fan and has attended numerous UFC events.</p>

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 11: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics watches a free throw against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the TD Garden on February 11, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Celtics' Brown has 'toyed with' UFC, boxing after NBA career

Featherweight contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy will square off in the main event of UFC...

<p>Featherweight contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy will square off in the main event of UFC London on March 21, the promotion announced Monday.</p><p>Evloev was sidelined for all of 2025 and will return to the Octagon for the first time since his unanimous decision win over Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310 in December 2024. The 31-year-old Russian is 9-0 in the UFC and holds a 19-0 professional record.</p><p>Murphy, who fights out of Manchester, England, will headline an event in his home country for the first time. The 34-year-old is coming off a vicious knockout of Aaron Pico at UFC 319 in August and is 17-0-1 as a pro.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Evloev and Murphy are ranked Nos. 1 and 4 in the 145-pound division, respectively. The winner could be next in line for a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski, who defended the belt this past weekend at UFC 325 against Diego Lopes.</p><p>The UFC London co-main event will feature Luke Riley and Michael Aswell in a featherweight bout. Additionally, Michael "Venom" Page will return to the welterweight division to face Sam Patterson. Tap <a href="https://x.com/UFCEurope/status/2018353718169858470?s=20">here</a> to see the rest of the card.</p><p> </p>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 16: Lerone Murphy of England reacts after his victory via knockout in the first round against Aaron Pico of the United States, not pictured, during their featherweight bout in UFC 319 at the United Center on August 16, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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Evloev-Murphy to headline UFC London in March

Alexander Volkanovski defended the UFC featherweight title in his rematch with Diego Lopes, earni...

<p>Alexander Volkanovski defended the UFC featherweight title in his rematch with Diego Lopes, earning a unanimous decision victory in the UFC 325 main event Saturday night in Sydney.</p><p>In the co-headliner, Benoit Saint Denis continued to climb the lightweight rankings with a second-round TKO of Dan Hooker.</p><p>Here are five takeaways from the event.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Volkanovski-Lopes 2 was unnecessary</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820068/cropped_GettyImages-2259328423.jpg?ts=1769976333" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820068/w220xh124_GettyImages-2259328423.jpg?ts=1769976333 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820068/w320xh180_GettyImages-2259328423.jpg?ts=1769976333 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820068/w640xh360_GettyImages-2259328423.jpg?ts=1769976333 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820068/w768xh432_GettyImages-2259328423.jpg?ts=1769976333 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820068/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2259328423.jpg?ts=1769976333 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>We never needed Volkanovski and Lopes to run it back - and the outcome of Saturday's rematch proved it. Nine months after Volkanovski beat Lopes in decisive fashion to reclaim the featherweight title, he outclassed him again.</p><p>The UFC faced a lot of criticism for giving Lopes another crack at Volkanovski, especially with Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy waiting for their first title shots. In this case, the critics were right. Not a whole lot changed from the first fight. Volkanovski was the smarter and more technical fighter in the stand-up department; Lopes didn't pull the trigger enough, nor did he cut off the cage. Their first meeting was more entertaining.</p><p>After Volkanovski got his hand raised, I couldn't help but wonder what the point of this was. A second win over Lopes doesn't do much for Volkanovski's resume. And Lopes, one of the featherweight division's rising stars, is now 0-2 in championship fights and officially out of the title mix - at least for the foreseeable future.</p><p>The UFC matchmakers get a lot of things right, but they missed the mark with Volkanovski-Lopes 2.</p><h3>What's next for Volkanovski?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/cropped_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/759646/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188800458.jpg?ts=1733696132 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Steve Marcus / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>At 37, Volkanovski may not be in his prime anymore, but he is still clearly the best featherweight in the world with Ilia Topuria competing at lightweight. However, it's time to see him tested against fresh opposition.</p><p>Ahead of UFC 325, Volkanovski didn't shy away from the fact he believed Evloev and Murphy were both more deserving of a title shot than Lopes. It's not Volkanovski's fault - or Lopes' for that matter - that the promotion went in a different direction. But one of those two guys has to be next in line.</p><h3>Saint Denis, Ruffy cement themselves as lightweight contenders</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820069/cropped_GettyImages-2259382101.jpg?ts=1769976470" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820069/w220xh124_GettyImages-2259382101.jpg?ts=1769976470 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820069/w320xh180_GettyImages-2259382101.jpg?ts=1769976470 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820069/w640xh360_GettyImages-2259382101.jpg?ts=1769976470 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820069/w768xh432_GettyImages-2259382101.jpg?ts=1769976470 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820069/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2259382101.jpg?ts=1769976470 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mark Kolbe Photography / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The lightweight division is in good hands, as Saint Denis extended his winning streak to four against Hooker and Mauricio Ruffy earned the biggest victory of his career versus Rafael Fiziev.</p><p>Saint Denis used his grappling to wear down Hooker and then pummeled him on the ground with elbows and punches, scoring a TKO finish at the 4:45 mark of the second round. Ruffy floored Fiziev with a massive right hand and then got the job done with ground-and-pound, winning at the 4:30 mark of the second frame.</p><p>While Saint Denis and Ruffy still have more work to do before challenging for the title, it's safe to say that the Frenchman and Brazilian are officially among the division's elite.</p><h3>Bye-bye, 'Bam Bam'</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820070/cropped_GettyImages-2258747519.jpg?ts=1769976497" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820070/w220xh124_GettyImages-2258747519.jpg?ts=1769976497 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820070/w320xh180_GettyImages-2258747519.jpg?ts=1769976497 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820070/w640xh360_GettyImages-2258747519.jpg?ts=1769976497 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820070/w768xh432_GettyImages-2258747519.jpg?ts=1769976497 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820070/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2258747519.jpg?ts=1769976497 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">STEVEN MARKHAM / AFP / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>I get that Tai Tuivasa is a fan favorite, but let's be honest: Riding a six-fight losing streak, "Bam Bam" has no business being on the UFC roster anymore.</p><p>His unanimous decision loss to Tallison Teixeira on Saturday - his first fight since August 2024 - was entertaining at times but embarrassing at others, and it said a lot about the state of the heavyweight division. By the end of the fight, Teixeira and Tuivasa were both so exhausted that all they could do was sit down next to each other on the canvas.</p><p>Tuivasa has delivered many memorable moments both in the Octagon and outside of it (like drinking beer from shoes), but it's time for the promotion to let him loose.</p><h3>Salkilld is a prospect to watch</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820071/cropped_GettyImages-2259316527.jpg?ts=1769976547" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820071/w220xh124_GettyImages-2259316527.jpg?ts=1769976547 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820071/w320xh180_GettyImages-2259316527.jpg?ts=1769976547 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820071/w640xh360_GettyImages-2259316527.jpg?ts=1769976547 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820071/w768xh432_GettyImages-2259316527.jpg?ts=1769976547 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/820071/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2259316527.jpg?ts=1769976547 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Australia's Quillan Salkilld was one of the standout performers at UFC 325.</p><p>The 26-year-old lightweight tapped out veteran Jamie Mullarkey with a rear-naked choke in the first round. He improved to 4-0 in the promotion, with three of those wins ending within the first five minutes.</p><p>In his most recent fight before Saturday, Salkilld delivered one of the biggest highlights of 2025, a head-kick knockout of Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 321. Clearly, Salkilld can do it all: knock you out, submit you, or beat you on the scorecards. And at his age, he has a lot of time to improve his game. Keep an eye on him, because he could very well be a problem in the 155-pound division sooner than later.</p>

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UFC 325 takeaways: We didn't need Volkanovski-Lopes 2

Father Time is apparently no match for Alexander Volkanovski.  The UFC featherweight champion ret...

<p>Father Time is apparently no match for Alexander Volkanovski.</p><p>The UFC featherweight champion retained his title Saturday night, defeating Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45) in the UFC 325 main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.</p><p>Volkanovski beat Lopes for the second time in nine months. The Australian also won a unanimous decision at UFC 314 last April to capture the vacant 145-pound championship. This was the first defense of Volkanovski's second title reign.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It ain't getting any easier, I can tell you that," Volkanovski, 37, said in his postfight interview. "(During) camp, (there) was a lot of things going on. We pushed through."</p><p>Volkanovski is now tied with Jose Aldo for the most title-fight wins in UFC featherweight history (eight).</p><p>Volkanovski controlled the action and outworked Lopes throughout much of the fight. He outlanded the challenger 98-70 in significant strikes and 112-74 in total strikes.</p><p>Volkanovski kept Lopes at bay with jabs and landed heavy punches in the pocket, once again proving to be more technically sound on the feet. Lopes scored a flash knockdown in the third round, though Volkanovski was never seriously hurt.</p><p>Down on the scorecards entering the fifth round, Lopes had a brief chance at pulling off a comeback. He got on Volkanovski's back and went for a rear-naked choke, but Volkanovski escaped the position. Later in the round, Lopes tried to sink in a kimura but wasn't successful. Volkanovski got out of danger and ended the fight on top of Lopes.</p><p>"I wanted to take him out, I wanted to grab hold of him and put him down, but he was strong," Volkanovski said. "I didn't want to stand for 25 minutes, I'll be honest. But we got the job done, so it's all good."</p><p>Volkanovski is now riding a two-fight winning streak. "The Great," whose first title reign lasted from 2019-24, dropped the belt in a devastating knockout loss to Ilia Topuria in February 2024. But he became a two-time featherweight champion against Lopes nine months ago after Topuria vacated the title to move up to lightweight.</p><p>One of the greatest fighters of all time, Volkanovski is one title defense away from tying Aldo's record for the most in UFC featherweight history (seven).</p><p>Lopes, a 31-year-old Brazilian, fell to 1-2 in his last three Octagon appearances.</p>

Australia's Alexander Volkanovski celebrates winning the men's featherweight division title fight against Brazil's Diego Lopes during the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 325 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on February 1, 2026. / --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE--

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Volkanovski beats Lopes again to retain UFC featherweight title

UFC 325 took place Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. In the main event, Alexander Vol...

<p><em>UFC 325 took place Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. In the main event, Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes via unanimous decision to retain the featherweight title. theScore's Nick Baldwin provided live results and analysis throughout the card.</em></p><p>📌 <strong>Jump to: </strong><a href="#saint%20denis">Saint Denis' TKO</a> |<strong> </strong><a href="#ruffy">Ruffy's TKO</a> |<strong> </strong><a href="#teixeira">Teixeira's UD</a> |<strong> </strong><a href="#salkilld">Salkilld's submission</a> |<strong> </strong><a href="#elekana">Prelims</a> | <a href="#early%20prelims">Early prelims</a></p><h3>Volkanovski reigns Down Under</h3><p>Alexander Volkanovski cruised past Diego Lopes, earning a unanimous decision victory to retain the featherweight championship. The judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45 in his favor.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>For more, tap <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3469031" href="https://thescore.com/news/3469031">here</a>.</p><h3>Volkanovski's walkout is an all-timer</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">VOLK MAKES THAT WALK! 🇦🇺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC325?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC325</a> | Live on TNT Sports &amp; discovery+ <a href="https://t.co/J8rbvBKCse">pic.twitter.com/J8rbvBKCse</a></p>— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufcontnt/status/2017815416119193990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3>Who ya got, Volkanovski or Lopes?</h3><p>Volkanovski closed as a -160 betting favorite over Lopes (-140) on theScore Bet. Who are you picking to win the main event?</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Will Diego Lopes get revenge against Alexander Volkanovski tonight? 💥 <a href="https://t.co/HFvXAHXOV0">pic.twitter.com/HFvXAHXOV0</a></p>— theScore Bet (@theScoreBet) <a href="https://twitter.com/theScoreBet/status/2017674496992272805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3><a id="saint denis" name="saint%20denis">Saint Denis destroys Hooker</a></h3><p>Benoit Saint Denis battered Dan Hooker in the co-main event, earning a TKO finish at the 4:45 mark of the second round.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1418423646677002%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=476&amp;t=0" width="476" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></figure><p>After a competitive first round, Saint Denis used his ground game to dominate Hooker in the second stanza. The Frenchman got on top, attempted multiple submissions, and turned Hooker's face into a bloody mess with vicious ground-and-pound. Referee Herb Dean gave Hooker every opportunity to stay in the fight but eventually waved it off.</p><p>Saint Denis, the No. 8-ranked lightweight, will move closer to the top five after taking out No. 6 Hooker. The 30-year-old is now riding a four-fight winning streak.</p><p>Hooker, a 35-year-old New Zealander, has lost two in a row. </p><blockquote><p>👉 <strong><a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466305">Check out all the odds available for UFC 325 on theScore Bet here</a></strong></p></blockquote><h3><a id="ruffy" name="ruffy">Ruffy makes statement with TKO of Fiziev</a></h3><p>Mauricio Ruffy earned the biggest win of his career, finishing Rafael Fiziev via TKO at the 4:30 mark of the second round in a lightweight bout.</p><p>Ruffy loaded up on a right hand that rocked Fiziev and then sat him down with a follow-up punch. Fiziev tried to escape danger, but Ruffy unleashed ground-and-pound to force the referee to intervene.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2469879953430789%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=476&amp;t=0" width="476" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></figure><p>With the victory, Ruffy bounced back from a submission loss to Benoit Saint Denis at UFC Paris last September. The 29-year-old Brazilian has won four of five fights in the promotion.</p><p>Fiziev, who was coming off a decision win over Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC Baku last June, is 1-4 in his last five outings.</p><p>Ruffy and Fiziev were ranked No. 14 and No. 9 in the 155-pound division coming in, respectively.</p><h3><a id="teixeira" name="teixeira">Teixeira holds off Tuivasa to win decision</a></h3><p>Tallison Teixeira defeated Tai Tuivasa in a back-and-forth heavyweight bout, earning a unanimous decision victory. All three judges scored the fight 29-28 in his favor.</p><p>Teixeira outgrappled Tuivasa in the first two rounds but had to survive a late rally from Tuivasa to secure the judges' nod. In the third round, Tuivasa charged forward and landed heavy punches, but he was unable to find the knockout. Both men were visibly exhausted by the end of the fight.</p><p>Teixeira, a 26-year-old Brazilian, went the distance for the first time in his MMA career. He improved to 9-1 as a professional and 2-1 in the UFC.</p><p>Tuivasa, who returned to the Octagon for the first time since August 2024, suffered his sixth loss in a row.</p><h3><a id="salkilld" name="salkilld">Salkilld makes quick work of Mullarkey</a></h3><p>Quillan Salkilld continued his rise in the lightweight division with a submission win over Jamie Mullarkey. Salkilld secured a takedown and then tapped Mullarkey out with a rear-naked choke at the 3:02 mark of the first round.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wasted no time in this one tonight 😤<a href="https://twitter.com/quillansalkilld?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QuillanSalkilld</a> gets the submission victory in round one! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC325?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC325</a><br><br>[ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/paramountplus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParamountPlus</a> ] <a href="https://t.co/PoMvr4be8a">pic.twitter.com/PoMvr4be8a</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/2017786981841789205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The 26-year-old Perth, Australia, native is now riding an 11-fight winning streak. He's earned first-round finishes in three of his past four Octagon appearances.</p><p>Salkilld said he wants a top-15 opponent next.</p><h3>Volkanovski, Lopes arrive for main event</h3><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC325?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC325</a> main event has arrived 🤩<br><br>Main card starts NOW ➡️ <a href="https://twitter.com/paramountplus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paramountplus</a> <a href="https://t.co/EaQbhGGCbr">pic.twitter.com/EaQbhGGCbr</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/2017780512992202934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><h3><a id="elekana" name="elekana">Elekana taps out Tafa</a></h3><p>Billy Elekana survived heavy punches on the feet to submit Junior Tafa with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their light heavyweight bout.</p><p>After stinging Tafa with a big shot of his own, Elekana got the fight to the ground and locked up the submission shortly thereafter, forcing the tap at the 3:18 mark of the round.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Make that 3 in a row for Billy Elekana 👊<br><br>He's leaving <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC325?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC325</a> with the submission victory! <br><br>[ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/paramountplus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParamountPlus</a> ] <a href="https://t.co/Q05S8fqAcg">pic.twitter.com/Q05S8fqAcg</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/2017777913681109299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Elekana, a 30-year-old American, is now 3-1 in the Octagon after making his debut last January. Tafa, 29, fell to 2-5 in the promotion.</p><h3>Rowston delivers ground-and-pound finish</h3><p>Middleweight up-and-comer Cam Rowston got the job done in front of his hometown crowd, pounding out Cody Brundage on the ground. The TKO finish came at the 4:08 mark of the second round.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Still undefeated 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/camrowston?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CamRowston</a> gets the TKO victory in round two! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC325?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC325</a><br><br>[ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/paramountplus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParamountPlus</a> ] <a href="https://t.co/avbFiaVvgW">pic.twitter.com/avbFiaVvgW</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/2017772390911009032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Rowston, a 31-year-old born in Sydney, improved to 2-0 in the Octagon with the victory.</p><h3>Malkoun hands Finney 1st loss</h3><p>Jacob Malkoun dominated Torrez Finney in a middleweight bout, winning by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26). Finney suffered the first loss of his career, falling to 11-1 as a pro.</p><p>Malkoun controlled the distance on the feet and peppered Finney with punches throughout the fight. He scored a knockdown in the second round. Malkoun, 30, lifted his pro record to 9-3.</p><h3>Micallef's nasty submission kicks off prelims</h3><p>Welterweight prospect Jonathan Micallef put Oban Elliott to sleep in the opening preliminary bout, scoring a rear-naked choke finish at the 3:31 mark of the second round.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">JUST LIKE THAT 💥<br><br>Jonathan Micallef gets the submission victory in round two! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC325?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UFC325</a><br><br>[ LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/paramountplus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ParamountPlus</a> ] <a href="https://t.co/m9QX7dEu2I">pic.twitter.com/m9QX7dEu2I</a></p>— UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ufc/status/2017757407426888157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Micallef, a 26-year-old Australian, improved to 2-0 in the UFC and 9-0 as a professional. He said after the win he wants to face Neil Magny next.</p><h3>Full UFC 325 fight card</h3><p>Volkanovski is defending the featherweight championship for the first time since reclaiming it last year. The 37-year-old Australian defeated Lopes by unanimous decision at UFC 314 last April to become the second-ever two-time featherweight champion in UFC history. Volkanovski, one of the greatest fighters of all time, rebounded from back-to-back losses against Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev.</p><p>Lopes gets a second crack at the title after scoring a second-round knockout of Jean Silva in the Noche UFC main event last September. The No. 2-ranked contender is 6-1 in his last seven Octagon appearances and has beaten the likes of Silva, Brian Ortega, and Dan Ige.</p><p>In the co-main event, Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis will square off in a lightweight bout.</p><p>Here's a look at the rest of the UFC 325 fight card:</p><p><strong>Main card (Paramount+ at 9 p.m. ET)</strong></p><ul>
<li>Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes</li>
<li>Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint Denis</li>
<li>Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy</li>
<li>Tai Tuivasa vs. Tallison Teixeira</li>
<li>Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey</li>
</ul><p><strong>Preliminary card (Paramount+ at 7 p.m. ET)</strong></p><ul>
<li>Junior Tafa vs. Billy Elekana</li>
<li>Cam Rowston vs. Cody Brundage</li>
<li>Jacob Malkoun vs. Torrez Finney</li>
<li>Jonathan Micallef vs. Oban Elliott</li>
</ul><h3><a id="early prelims" name="early%20prelims">'Road to UFC' winners crowned on early prelims</a></h3><p>The early preliminary card featured the "Road to UFC" finals. Keiichiro Nakamura scored a come-from-behind TKO of Sebastian Szalay, landing a vicious knee to win the featherweight title at the 3:48 mark of the third round. Lawrence Lui took a split decision over Sulangrangbo at bantamweight and Dom Mar Fan defeated Kim Sangwook by unanimous decision at lightweight. </p><p>Also on the early prelims, featherweight Kaan Ofli earned a majority decision over Yizha in an official UFC bout.</p>

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 01: (L-R) Alexander Volkanovski of Australia punches Diego Lopes of Brazil in the UFC featherweight championship fight during the UFC 325 event at Qudos Bank Arena on February 01, 2026 in Sydney, Australia.

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UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2 results, analysis

UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov still isn't close to returning to the Octagon.  Rakh...

<p>UFC welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov still isn't close to returning to the Octagon.</p><p>Rakhmonov, who last fought in December 2024, recently reinjured his knee and underwent surgery, which is expected to keep him sidelined for another 9-10 months, his manager, Daniel Rubenstein, told <a href="https://x.com/arielhelwani/status/2017715182319898821?s=20">Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani</a> on Saturday.</p><p>Rakhmonov has been dealing with a knee injury since his most recent fight, a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310. The 31-year-old <a href="https://x.com/octagonupdate/status/2017625514014323159">was seen</a> using crutches while attending an MMA event in his native Kazakhstan on Saturday.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It's not easy to accept, but I truly believe every setback is part of a bigger plan," Rakhmonov <a href="https://x.com/Rakhmonov1994/status/2017841217430851764?s=20">wrote</a> in a statement on X. "I will come back stronger, smarter, and hungrier than ever.</p><p>"My goal is still alive. The UFC still has to come to Kazakhstan."</p><p>Ranked No. 2 in the welterweight division, Rakhmonov was in line to challenge for the title prior to his injury. "Nomad" holds a 19-0 professional record and is 7-0 in the UFC, with wins over Garry, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson, and Geoff Neal, among others.</p><p> </p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 16: Shavkat Rakhmonov of Kazakhstan enters the octagon to start a welterweight fight against Stephen Thompson of the United States during the UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington event at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Rakhmonov to be sidelined another 9-10 months after knee surgery

theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks ahead of Saturday's UFC 325 in Sydney.  Featherweight cha...

<p><em>theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks ahead of Saturday's UFC 325 in Sydney.</em></p><h3>Featherweight championship</h3><p><strong>Alexander Volkanovski (27-4)</strong><br><strong>vs.</strong><br><strong>Diego Lopes (27-7)</strong></p><p>After reclaiming the UFC featherweight title last spring, Alexander Volkanovski is looking to kick off his second reign the same way he started it: with a win over Diego Lopes.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Though Volkanovski decisively won their first meeting at UFC 314 last April, it's far from a guarantee we'll see the same outcome in the rematch. Volkanovski, 37, has endured a lot of wear and tear and continues to move further from his prime. Meanwhile, Lopes, 31, has never looked better than in his bounce-back knockout of Jean Silva at Noche UFC last September.</p><blockquote><p>🤜 <a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970"><strong>Check out all the odds available for UFC 325 on theScore Bet here</strong></a></p></blockquote><p>To avenge his loss, Lopes will need to do a better job of cutting off the cage while on the feet. He hurt Volkanovski multiple times in the first fight but followed him around the Octagon too much, ultimately letting him off the hook. If Lopes can rock Volkanovski and then connect with powerful follow-up shots, he has a good chance of beginning his own title reign.</p><p>Volkanovski is more or less hoping for a repeat of the first fight. He outlanded Lopes 158-63 in significant strikes and had a huge edge in technique and skill in the stand-up department. It would've been a shutout, barring the flash knockdown in the second round and one or two other moments of uncertainty.</p><p>Father Time could catch up to Volkanovski at any moment, but until I see it happen with my own eyes, I have to back him to beat Lopes again.</p><p><strong>👊 The pick: </strong><a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=bc2b2339-7d76-4124-aaac-40753fa29fa1&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=12&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=5&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325%2Fevent%2Fe49ec499-4a7c-4669-ac44-aac6ae587087&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970">Volkanovski, unanimous decision</a></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780334/cropped_GettyImages-2210000016.jpg?ts=1744523762" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780334/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210000016.jpg?ts=1744523762 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780334/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210000016.jpg?ts=1744523762 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780334/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210000016.jpg?ts=1744523762 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780334/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210000016.jpg?ts=1744523762 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/780334/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210000016.jpg?ts=1744523762 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><h3>Lightweight bout</h3><p><strong>Dan Hooker (24-13)</strong><br><strong>vs.</strong><br><strong>Benoit Saint Denis (16-3, 1 NC)</strong></p><p>Benoit Saint Denis will keep the momentum going with a violent finish of Dan Hooker.</p><p>Saint Denis had a resurgent 2025 campaign, finishing Kyle Prepolec, Mauricio Ruffy, and Beneil Dariush in consecutive fights to get back in the mix at 155 pounds.</p><p>Hooker is looking to get on track after a submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar in November. Though Hooker is known for his durability and toughness, I expect Saint Denis to eventually crack his chin and make a statement.</p><p><strong>👊 </strong><strong>The pick: </strong><a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=5b8ea2c9-667a-4c6a-b896-6f2a1b0e507d&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=11&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=1&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325%2Fevent%2F133e2bd6-a9d2-4e69-8ec2-5333ee3a6fe0&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970">Saint Denis, second-round TKO</a></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796282/cropped_GettyImages-2214435801.jpg?ts=1753992107" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796282/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214435801.jpg?ts=1753992107 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796282/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214435801.jpg?ts=1753992107 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796282/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214435801.jpg?ts=1753992107 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796282/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214435801.jpg?ts=1753992107 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/796282/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214435801.jpg?ts=1753992107 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><h3>Lightweight bout</h3><p><strong>Rafael Fiziev (13-4)</strong><br><strong>vs.</strong><br><strong>Mauricio Ruffy (12-2)</strong></p><p>This is another matchup that could earn Fight of the Night honors, as neither Rafael Fiziev nor Mauricio Ruffy is ever in boring fights. Ruffy was the talk of the town after his Knockout of the Year against King Green last March, but his stock took a major and sudden hit when Saint Denis tapped him out six months later. Fortunately for Ruffy, Fiziev isn't a submission specialist, but unfortunately for Ruffy, Fiziev is highly skilled on the feet. I'm picking Fiziev to win a close one.</p><p><strong>👊 The pick: </strong><a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=52dc0322-7b59-4671-811f-074d086f0c04&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=53&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=20&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325%2Fevent%2F97bbc39b-86f5-4ce5-b463-b08a04c38c48&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970">Fiziev, split decision</a></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774228/cropped_GettyImages-2203826234.jpg?ts=1741494942" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774228/w220xh124_GettyImages-2203826234.jpg?ts=1741494942 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774228/w320xh180_GettyImages-2203826234.jpg?ts=1741494942 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774228/w640xh360_GettyImages-2203826234.jpg?ts=1741494942 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774228/w768xh432_GettyImages-2203826234.jpg?ts=1741494942 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774228/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2203826234.jpg?ts=1741494942 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><h3>Heavyweight bout</h3><p><strong>Tai Tuivasa (14-8)</strong><br><strong>vs.</strong><br><strong>Tallison Teixeira (8-1)</strong></p><p>I really wanted to pick Tai Tuivasa to snap his five-fight losing streak, but then I remembered that Tallison Teixeira is 26 years old, 8-1 as a professional, and eager to bounce back from his first career loss. Yeah, I'll take that guy instead.</p><p><strong>👊 The pick: </strong><a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=33b7d87e-0546-4121-b8ac-2c69b24baff8&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=21&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=2&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325%2Fevent%2F1a2e6de4-9b95-4c29-a62f-9faa99f9a70e&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970">Teixeira, first-round submission</a></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794084/cropped_GettyImages-2224644915.jpg?ts=1769722248" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794084/w220xh124_GettyImages-2224644915.jpg?ts=1769722248 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794084/w320xh180_GettyImages-2224644915.jpg?ts=1769722248 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794084/w640xh360_GettyImages-2224644915.jpg?ts=1769722248 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794084/w768xh432_GettyImages-2224644915.jpg?ts=1769722248 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/794084/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2224644915.jpg?ts=1769722248 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><h3>Lightweight bout</h3><p><strong>Quillan Salkilld (10-1)</strong><br><strong>vs.</strong><br><strong>Jamie Mullarkey (18-8)</strong></p><p>Quillan Salkilld is a 10-1 betting favorite and is coming off one of the most devastating knockouts of 2025. Enough said.</p><p><strong>👊 The pick: </strong><a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=b5720fb7-84b8-45c9-b1f0-29db848b6482&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=11&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=4&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325%2Fevent%2F289439c9-fce2-41ab-8f5a-f4aef9e24fb3&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970">Salkilld, first-round TKO</a></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769571/cropped_GettyImages-2198436750.jpg?ts=1739059290" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769571/w220xh124_GettyImages-2198436750.jpg?ts=1739059290 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769571/w320xh180_GettyImages-2198436750.jpg?ts=1739059290 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769571/w640xh360_GettyImages-2198436750.jpg?ts=1739059290 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769571/w768xh432_GettyImages-2198436750.jpg?ts=1739059290 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/769571/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2198436750.jpg?ts=1739059290 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jeff Bottari / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><h3>Rapid-fire bets</h3><p><strong>💥 Best overall bet: </strong><a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=95ba33ee-a3c5-4448-a55a-126527bbee1b&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=51&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=31&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970">Alexander Volkanovski (-150) def. Diego Lopes</a></p><p>This isn't a bad price for the featherweight champ. I'd pass if the odds got any worse, but at -150, Volkanovski is worth a small play.</p><p><strong>💥 Best underdog bet: </strong><a href="https://about.thescore.bet/sportsbook-redirect/?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=feb9ef3f-939f-4ce8-a957-9acbd7ba121a&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=2&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=1&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970">Rafael Fiziev (+100) def. Mauricio Ruffy</a></p><p>There aren't too many tempting underdogs on this card, but Fiziev has what it takes to edge out a narrow win against Ruffy.</p><p><strong>💥 Best prop bet: </strong><a href="https://espnbet.app.link/integrations?market_selection_id%5B0%5D=518ca844-a50f-46da-abc6-329f6b8f4d8a&amp;odds_numerator%5B0%5D=5&amp;odds_denominator%5B0%5D=3&amp;%24canonical_url=%2Fsport%2Fmma%2Forganization%2Fufc%2Fcompetition%2Fufc-325%2Fevent%2F289439c9-fce2-41ab-8f5a-f4aef9e24fb3&amp;campaign=thescore_content&amp;customer_campaign=article&amp;%7Echannel=thescore-content&amp;tags=3466970">Quillan Salkilld def. Jamie Mullarkey by KO/TKO/DQ (-150)</a></p><p>Salkilld has earned first-round knockouts in two of his three UFC fights, while Mullarkey's last four losses all came via knockout.</p><p><em>US: Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER; Hope is here. Call <a href="tel:8003275050">(800)-327-5050</a> or visit <a href="http://gamblinghelplinema.org/">gamblinghelplinema.org</a> for 24/7 support (MA); Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).</em></p><p><em>ON: Please play responsibly. 19+. ON only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call ConnexOntario 24/7 at <a href="tel:18665312600">1-866-531-2600</a>. Text us at 247247 or chat with us at <a href="http://www.connexontario.ca/">www.connexontario.ca</a>.</em></p>

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UFC 325 predictions: Will Volkanovski beat Lopes again?

UFC 325 is upon us.  In Saturday's main event, Alexander Volkanovski defends the featherweight ti...

<p>UFC 325 is upon us.</p><p>In Saturday's main event, Alexander Volkanovski defends the featherweight title in a rematch with Diego Lopes. In the co-headliner, Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis collide in a marquee lightweight bout.</p><p>Here are three key storylines ahead of the UFC's return to Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>How long can Volkanovski stay on top of the featherweight division?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797816/cropped_GettyImages-2210000711.jpg?ts=1769632879" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797816/w220xh124_GettyImages-2210000711.jpg?ts=1769632879 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797816/w320xh180_GettyImages-2210000711.jpg?ts=1769632879 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797816/w640xh360_GettyImages-2210000711.jpg?ts=1769632879 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797816/w768xh432_GettyImages-2210000711.jpg?ts=1769632879 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797816/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2210000711.jpg?ts=1769632879 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Megan Briggs / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Volkanovski has already cemented himself as one of the greatest fighters ever. He has the second-most title defenses (five) and second-longest winning streak (11) in UFC featherweight history. He's also beaten the who's who of the 145-pound division, from Jose Aldo and Max Holloway (three times) to Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ortega. But here he is, at 37, still looking to make his resume even better.</p><p>Volkanovski is seeking the first defense of his second title reign against Lopes, a familiar opponent whom he beat by unanimous decision at UFC 314 last April to capture the vacant belt. The UFC's decision to book a rematch was puzzling, but with Volkanovski a year older, Lopes could have a stronger shot at winning. Lopes, 31, rebounded from the loss to Volkanovski with a vicious knockout of Jean Silva at Noche UFC last September, earning himself another title shot.</p><p>All of this begs the question: How long will Volkanovski's second reign last? In a deep featherweight division that historically favors younger fighters, "not long" seems like a reasonable answer. But this is also an all-time great we're talking about. Volkanovski proved a lot of people wrong when he came back from back-to-back knockout losses to defeat Lopes, becoming the oldest fighter to win the UFC featherweight belt. Maybe, just maybe, Volkanovski can keep the championship ride alive a while longer.</p><h3>Will Saint Denis be in title contention with a win over Hooker?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778552/cropped_GettyImages-2175343901.jpg?ts=1743618216" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778552/w220xh124_GettyImages-2175343901.jpg?ts=1743618216 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778552/w320xh180_GettyImages-2175343901.jpg?ts=1743618216 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778552/w640xh360_GettyImages-2175343901.jpg?ts=1743618216 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778552/w768xh432_GettyImages-2175343901.jpg?ts=1743618216 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778552/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2175343901.jpg?ts=1743618216 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Saint Denis is looking to keep the momentum going following a resurgent 2025 campaign.</p><p>After consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano in 2024, Saint Denis had appeared to hit his ceiling as a lightweight contender. However, he rebounded with three straight wins last year, including a 16-second knockout of Beneil Dariush and a submission of Mauricio Ruffy. Now, Saint Denis is back on the right track.</p><p>The No. 8-ranked lightweight has a major opportunity in front of him. A win over Hooker, ranked No. 6, would have Saint Denis knocking on the doorstep of title contention - and a step closer to becoming one of the division's elites.</p><h3>Is Tuivasa fighting for his job?</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633968/cropped_GettyImages-1670990275.jpg?ts=1719074591" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633968/w220xh124_GettyImages-1670990275.jpg?ts=1719074591 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633968/w320xh180_GettyImages-1670990275.jpg?ts=1719074591 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633968/w640xh360_GettyImages-1670990275.jpg?ts=1719074591 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633968/w768xh432_GettyImages-1670990275.jpg?ts=1719074591 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633968/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1670990275.jpg?ts=1719074591 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Taking on Tallison Teixeira in a heavyweight bout, Tai Tuivasa returns to the Octagon this weekend for the first time since August 2024.</p><p>The 32-year-old Australian has fallen on hard times, as he's lost five in a row and hasn't won since knocking out Derrick Lewis in February 2022. Notably, four of those losses were finishes.</p><p>Thanks to Tuivasa's popularity and fan-friendly style, the UFC has given him a longer leash than others. Some of the defeats were also a bit excusable, given the steep level of competition: Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov, and Sergei Pavlovich, among others. But if Tuivasa doesn't get past Teixeira, who's 1-1 in the UFC, there's a good chance that will mark the end of his run in the promotion.</p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Alexander Volkanovski is seen on stage during the UFC It's On Seasonal Press Conference at T-Mobile Arena on December 05, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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3 biggest storylines ahead of UFC 325

Justin Gaethje became the UFC interim lightweight champion for the second time Saturday night, de...

<p>Justin Gaethje became the UFC interim lightweight champion for the second time Saturday night, defeating Paddy Pimblett in a wild slugfest during the UFC 324 main event in Las Vegas.</p><p>In the co-headliner, former bantamweight champ Sean O'Malley got back on track with a unanimous decision win over Song Yadong.</p><p>Here are five takeaways from the first event of the Paramount+ era.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Gaethje turns back the clock</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819049/cropped_GettyImages-2258043928.jpg?ts=1769375313" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819049/w220xh124_GettyImages-2258043928.jpg?ts=1769375313 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819049/w320xh180_GettyImages-2258043928.jpg?ts=1769375313 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819049/w640xh360_GettyImages-2258043928.jpg?ts=1769375313 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819049/w768xh432_GettyImages-2258043928.jpg?ts=1769375313 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819049/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2258043928.jpg?ts=1769375313 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Don't count out "The Highlight" - at least not yet.</p><p>That's the biggest lesson I learned from Gaethje's exhilarating, y'all-must've-forgot win over Pimblett, in which he did more damage and outlasted his younger opponent in the championship rounds. A lot of people - myself included - thought Gaethje's brawling style may have finally caught up to him when he suffered a devastating knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April 2024. But he's since rattled off two straight victories, making it clear that there's still some gas left in the tank.</p><p>This was, at least in a sense, a vintage Justin Gaethje performance. A bite-down-on-your-mouthpiece, throw-caution-to-the-wind kind of fight. Was this Gaethje at his peak? No. But at 37 years old, he still has what it takes to go five rounds, deliver a Fight of the Year candidate, and get his hand raised.</p><p>The determination Gaethje has shown to reach this point is unreal. He won the interim lightweight title in May 2020 but failed to unify the belts when he faced Khabib Nurmagomedov five months later. Gaethje fought for the undisputed belt again in 2022, losing to Charles Oliveira. And here he is, four years later, ready for one last shot against Ilia Topuria. That kind of longevity, with his kind of fight style, is practically unheard of.</p><h3>Pimblett is pretty tough too</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819051/cropped_GettyImages-2258046667.jpg?ts=1769375432" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819051/w220xh124_GettyImages-2258046667.jpg?ts=1769375432 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819051/w320xh180_GettyImages-2258046667.jpg?ts=1769375432 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819051/w640xh360_GettyImages-2258046667.jpg?ts=1769375432 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819051/w768xh432_GettyImages-2258046667.jpg?ts=1769375432 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819051/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2258046667.jpg?ts=1769375432 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Pimblett deserves praise for his efforts against Gaethje. He didn't win, but he became the first man to take Gaethje the distance in a five-round fight. He also overcame two knockdowns. He even landed more significant strikes in three of five rounds and held a 156-144 edge overall.</p><p>Gaethje said it best after the fight: Scousers - at least this scouser - don't get knocked out.</p><p>This loss was indeed a setback for Pimblett, who was one win away from a megafight and undisputed title shot versus Topuria later this year. Pimblett had never lost in the UFC and was on track to becoming one of the biggest stars in the sport. However, the defeat might be worth it in the long run. It'll make him better, and it proved he can hang with the best of the best.</p><p>At 31 years old, Pimblett has a lot of time to get back in the title mix. He said in the Octagon after the fight, "I'll be back better. It's as simple as that. You haven't seen the last of me." It's easy to believe that.</p><h3>Tsarukyan still the biggest challenge for Topuria</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765927/cropped_GettyImages-2194304437.jpg?ts=1737141623" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765927/w220xh124_GettyImages-2194304437.jpg?ts=1737141623 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765927/w320xh180_GettyImages-2194304437.jpg?ts=1737141623 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765927/w640xh360_GettyImages-2194304437.jpg?ts=1737141623 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765927/w768xh432_GettyImages-2194304437.jpg?ts=1737141623 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/765927/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2194304437.jpg?ts=1737141623 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Cooper Neill / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Gaethje is the interim champion, but when it comes to the most compelling opponent for Topuria, that designation still belongs to Arman Tsarukyan.</p><p>Ranked No. 1 in the division before UFC 324, Tsarukyan deserved to be fighting for the interim title Saturday. He's riding a five-fight winning streak and is 10-1 in his last 11 Octagon appearances. But UFC CEO Dana White apparently still thinks Tsarukyan needs to do more to earn another shot after pulling out of a title fight against Islam Makhachev at the last minute 12 months ago.</p><p>Regardless, Topuria-Tsarukyan is a much more competitive matchup than Topuria-Gaethje on paper. Tsarukyan remains the second-best lightweight in the UFC - and the toughest test for Topuria - unless proven otherwise.</p><h3>Dvalishvili a big winner</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816929/cropped_GettyImages-2251289450.jpg?ts=1769375460" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816929/w220xh124_GettyImages-2251289450.jpg?ts=1769375460 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816929/w320xh180_GettyImages-2251289450.jpg?ts=1769375460 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816929/w640xh360_GettyImages-2251289450.jpg?ts=1769375460 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816929/w768xh432_GettyImages-2251289450.jpg?ts=1769375460 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/816929/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2251289450.jpg?ts=1769375460 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Ian Maule / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>You have to feel pretty good about your chances of getting the next bantamweight title shot if you're Merab Dvalishvili. O'Malley and Umar Nurmagomedov had an opportunity to skip the line with an impressive performance at UFC 324. But it's hard to say that their respective wins over Song and Deiveson Figueiredo were enough to convince the UFC brass that they should be next up for Petr Yan.</p><p>Dvalishvili called for an immediate rematch as soon as he lost the belt to Yan at UFC 323 in December - and he might just get it.</p><h3>Jean Silva is a wild man</h3><p>OK, I guess technically we already knew that before he jumped off Arnold Allen's back with a few seconds left in their featherweight bout. But just look at these photos. "Lord" Silva really is something else.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819033/cropped_GettyImages-2258033784.jpg?ts=1769368916" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819033/w220xh124_GettyImages-2258033784.jpg?ts=1769368916 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819033/w320xh180_GettyImages-2258033784.jpg?ts=1769368916 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819033/w640xh360_GettyImages-2258033784.jpg?ts=1769368916 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819033/w768xh432_GettyImages-2258033784.jpg?ts=1769368916 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819033/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2258033784.jpg?ts=1769368916 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Chris Unger / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819034/cropped_GettyImages-2258033792.jpg?ts=1769369002" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819034/w220xh124_GettyImages-2258033792.jpg?ts=1769369002 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819034/w320xh180_GettyImages-2258033792.jpg?ts=1769369002 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819034/w640xh360_GettyImages-2258033792.jpg?ts=1769369002 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819034/w768xh432_GettyImages-2258033792.jpg?ts=1769369002 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/819034/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2258033792.jpg?ts=1769369002 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Cooper Neill / UFC / Getty</span></figcaption></figure>

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UFC 324 takeaways: Gaethje has a lot of fight left in him

Justin Gaethje took home a unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett in an early candidate for F...

<p>Justin Gaethje took home a unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett in an early candidate for Fight of the Year, claiming the interim lightweight championship in the UFC 324 main event.</p><p>The judges scored the fight 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46 in Gaethje's favor Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.</p><p>Gaethje, 37, is now a two-time UFC interim lightweight champion after previously winning the title in May 2020.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Gaethje and Pimblett delivered an instant classic, exchanging heavy blows on the feet in all five rounds. Gaethje outlanded Pimblett 200-170 in total strikes, while Pimblett had a 156-144 edge in significant strikes.</p><p>Gaethje praised Pimblett's toughness afterward, calling him a "warrior."</p><p>"That f----r is right. Scousers do not get knocked out - that Scouser does not get knocked out," Gaethje said in his postfight interview. "My god, what a f-----g gangster."</p><p>Gaethje handed Pimblett the first loss of his UFC career. Pimblett is now 7-1 in the promotion. The 31-year-old Liverpool native had won nine in a row coming in.</p><p>"I wanted to leave with that belt, but there's no other man I'd rather lose to," Pimblett said in his postfight interview. "Justin Gaethje is someone I've loved watching, growing up watching the UFC. It shows why he's a legend right there."</p><p>As the interim champion, Gaethje is next in line to challenge Ilia Topuria for the undisputed title later this year. Topuria announced in November that he was taking a hiatus due to personal matters, leading the UFC to book Saturday's main event. Topuria said last week he expects to return to the Octagon between April and June.</p><p>Topuria ripped Pimblett's performance in the aftermath of the fight.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Little sausage, the only thing you had to do was beat a 38 year old guy. You just lost the biggest paycheck of your life. You were going to get rich if you won. Justin, all I can say is congratulations… and I’d like to tell you to get ready, but you’re screwed no matter what.</p>— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Topuriailia/status/2015326882464420110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Gaethje took an early lead in Round 1, dropping Pimblett with an uppercut and nearly finishing the fight. Gaethje scored another knockdown in the second round. He got on top of Pimblett and landed heavy ground-and-pound to close the frame.</p><p>Pimblett had a massive third round, seemingly turning the tide. He tagged Gaethje with crisp jabs and was much busier than his opponent. But Gaethje regained momentum in the fourth and fifth rounds, once again walking forward and landing the more damaging shots.</p><p>Gaethje has now won two in a row and is 4-1 in his last five appearances. Gaethje was ranked No. 4 in the 155-pound division coming in.</p><p>Pimblett suffered his first loss since September 2018 when he fought for the Cage Warriors lightweight title in his native Liverpool. He was ranked fifth in the weight class entering Saturday's main event.</p><p>"I'll be back better," Pimblett said. "It's as simple as that. You haven't seen the last of me."</p><p> </p>

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 24: Justin Gaethje has the belt strapped on his waist by UFC CEO and President Dana White following the UFC lightweight interim championship bout during the UFC 324 event at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Gaethje beats Pimblett in thriller to win UFC interim title

https://rich-content.thescore.com/authors/nick-baldwin/content_cards