Volkanovski Reveals Aggressive Gameplan for UFC 325 Title Defence
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has strongly indicated he will adopt a notably more aggressive and high-risk fighting strategy this weekend as he prepares to defend his title against Diego Lopes for the second time. The highly anticipated rematch headlines UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia, marking Volkanovski's first bout on home soil since regaining the championship.
Champion Plans to Bulldoze Through Opposition
In candid comments to ESPN, the 37-year-old Australian champion outlined his intention to abandon his typically calculated approach in favour of overwhelming physical dominance. "I've thought to myself, 'You don't need to be that calculated, you can bulldoze these guys,'" Volkanovski revealed. "Why are you not just bulldozing these guys when you actually can? I feel like I could have done this to all of my opponents: proper bulldoze them and go straight through these guys. And that's what I plan on doing this time."
Volkanovski issued a stark warning to his Brazilian challenger, emphasising his readiness to deliver powerful strikes and decisive takedowns. "You wanna come aggressive at me? Be ready for big, big shots coming your way. Be ready to be dumped on your head. You think you're going to stop my takedowns? Not if I want to take you down," he declared. The champion promised that any aggressive advances from Lopes would be met with devastating counterattacks.
Rematch Context and Fighter Backgrounds
This championship bout represents a swift rematch, occurring just nine months after Volkanovski outpointed Lopes to claim the vacant featherweight title in April. That victory made Volkanovski a two-time UFC champion, though he has been inactive since that contest. Meanwhile, Lopes rebounded impressively in September with a spectacular spinning back elbow knockout victory over fellow Brazilian Jean Silva.
The first encounter between these fighters saw Lopes manage to drop Volkanovski, demonstrating the genuine threat he poses despite ultimately losing the decision. This moment of vulnerability appears to have influenced Volkanovski's strategic shift toward a more assertive approach for the rematch.
Recent Form and Statistical Analysis
While many consider Volkanovski among the greatest featherweights in mixed martial arts history, his recent performances have shown some inconsistency. Against Lopes, he seeks only his second victory since July 2023 and his first stoppage win during that period. His most recent finish came via TKO against Yair Rodriguez, which followed a narrow decision loss to Islam Makhachev in a lightweight title challenge.
Subsequently, Volkanovski suffered consecutive knockout defeats—first in a short-notice rematch with Makhachev, then in a title defence against Ilia Topuria in February 2024. Topuria's relinquishment of the championship twelve months later created the vacancy that led to Volkanovski's title-winning performance against Lopes.
Lopes brings a well-rounded threat to the octagon with a professional record of 27-7. Of his victories, twelve have come via submission and eleven via knockout or technical knockout, with only four decisions. Volkanovski maintains an impressive 27-4 professional record featuring thirteen knockout wins, three submission victories, and eleven decision triumphs.
Strategic Implications for UFC 325
Volkanovski's proclaimed shift toward aggressive domination represents a significant tactical departure that could dramatically alter the dynamics of this championship rematch. His commitment to "properly sitting down" on power shots and imposing his will physically suggests a fighter determined to reassert his dominance in emphatic fashion.
The champion's bold declaration sets the stage for what promises to be a compelling tactical battle between Volkanovski's renewed aggression and Lopes' proven knockout power and submission expertise. With both fighters possessing finishing ability and something to prove, UFC 325's main event in Sydney appears destined to deliver fireworks as the featherweight championship hangs in the balance.
