Betting
Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2 Preview – UFC 325 Tips, Odds & Predictions
Date: Sunday, 1 February 2026 Time: 02:00 AM GMT Venue: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, Australia It won’t be long to wait before SportsBoom heads Down Under as Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will clash once again in the Octagon with the featherweight title on the line. In the first edition, Volkanovski survived a knockdown before outpointing his Brazilian opponent to become a two-time champion. Lopes was looking to scale the heights of the featherweight division for the first time 10 months ago, but he came up agonisingly short against the prized Australian pugilist. Given that this bout will take place in Sydney, the top UFC betting sites around will be stacked with markets and lines to pique the interest of bettors.
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Diego Lopes of Brazil (L) shakes hands with Alexander Volkanovski of Australia
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Volkanovski Leads Way
To influence our UFC betting strategies, we’ve scooted over to one of the finest online sports betting sites in the USA to assess the current moneyline odds for Volkanovski and Lopes.
Alexander Volkanovski: 29/50 (1.58) – 63.3%
Diego Lopes: 67/50 (2.34) – 42.7%
*Odds courtesy of FanDuel, subject to change.
Tale of the Tape
When you have two fighters that have a history like Volkanovski and Lopes do, then it’s always worth considering their strengths and recent form.
Our table below contains some key stats, some of which are found at other formidable UFC betting sportsbooks, but study these before making picks
Tale of the Tape
| Attribute | Alexander Volkanovski | Diego Lopes |
| Age | 37 | 31 |
| Height | 5’6 (168cm) | 5’11 (180cm) |
| Weight | 145lbs (65.7kg) | 146lbs (66.2kg) |
| Reach | 71.5” (181.6cm) | 72.5” (184cm) |
| Record | 27-4-0 | 27-7-0 |
| KO/TKO | 13 Wins (48%) | 11 Wins (41%) |
| Submission | 3 Wins (11%) | 12 Wins (44%) |
| Decisions | 11 Wins (41%) | 4 Wins (15%) |
Alexander Volkanovski News
After suffering two bruising knockout losses on the bounce against Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title with a hard-fought win over Diego Lopes.
Some fans may have been fearing the worst for Volkanovski when the then 36-year-old was knocked down in round two. However, he displayed great resilience to come back, and he produced some stunning glovework in the latter rounds.
There were some frantic rounds, but Volkanovski won the contest 48-47, 49-46, and 49-46. Although there have been some calls for Volkanovski to retire, his duel with Lopes is unlikely to be a farewell.
Volkanovski supposedly thought that Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy were more deserving title contenders than Lopes, but the UFC fans could be in store for another treat if the first bout is anything to go by.
Diego Lopes News
Before his defeat to Volkanovski, Diego Lopes was in superb form, scoring five wins on the bounce. This included two clinical TKO wins against Pat Sabatini and Sodiq Yusuff, with both contests decided in round one.
Fiercely ambitious, Lopes is desperate to cover himself in UFC gold. The 31-year-old has enjoyed a quick ascent up the featherweight division, and he has previously admitted his jiu-jitsu is his biggest strength. Lopes reckons that this has helped him become more aggressive and seize the initiative in bouts.
This differs from Volkanovski, who is more renowned for striking and wrestling; however, the clash of styles means this could make for a fascinating contest.
Lopes, whose current record is 27-7, needs to keep himself out of Volkanovski’s range as the Australian is adept at throwing heavy knees and elbows. However, if Lopes can exact revenge, it would be his greatest achievement to date in UFC.
Suggested Bets
Usually, you can pinpoint free bet offers for major fights as well as sports betting predictions, and as part of our Volkanovski vs Lopes preview, we’ve provided some suggested tips that are worth pursuing based on the odds available.
- 1
Alexander Volkanovski to Win: As the top dog in the featherweight division and the reigning champion, Volkanovski relishes being in the limelight. His credentials can’t be questioned, and while there has been speculation surrounding his future in the sport, Volkanovski will be eager to please the fans in his home country, and he could prevail, which is worth exploring. (28/50 with BetMGM)
- 2
Alexander Volkanovski to Win By Decision: The first contest in April 2025 was an extremely tight affair, and while Volkanovski survived a scare when he was knocked down, he pulled himself up off the canvas to record a stunning points decision win. Don’t be surprised if we see a repeat in the rematch. (20/21 with BetRivers)
- 3
Diego Lopes to Win Inside Four Rounds: Although he has had to bide his time to reach the top, Lopes has been in a rich vein of form. His five wins on the trot attest to this, and if he finds his range early on, he could be heard to stop. We’ve been slightly more conservative and gone with a win inside four rounds. (19/20 with Caesars)
Value Bets
Fight to Go the Distance: This is generally an intriguing line available at sites for UFC betting. The first fight between Volkanovski and Lopez provided plenty of drama, and it went the distance. There is no reason stopping this contest from needing the full five rounds again to determine a winner. (2/1 with bet365)
Diego Lopes to Win By KO/TKO: Lopes would love the chance to turn the tables, and he has shown what he’s all about over the past 12 months or so. With another shot at the title beckoning, he could stun the home crowd and deliver a KO/TKO win. (3/1 with DraftKings)
Total Under 4.5 Rounds: Instead of going for the fight to go the distance, you can wager on this contest to be decided within four rounds. Generally, Valkanovski and Lopes have been able to dispatch their opponents in four rounds or less, so this market has legs and could be worth following up on. (3/1 with Hard Rock Bet)
Prediction: Diego Lopes to Win By Decision
UFC 325 has all the ingredients to be a memorable night, and who doesn’t love a sequel?! Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 takes top billing on the main card, and the hype surrounding it is justified. In the first fight, Lopes may have thought that he had Volkanovski’s number with the knockdown, and his ju-jitsu skills came to the fore.
Of course, underestimating Volkanovski would be a mistake, but we feel that Lopes, who is on a five bout winning streak, may have learned from his lessons. It feels like a tough call, but if push comes to shove, we think Lopes will get his revenge, and he could prevail on a points decision.
Charles Perrin has spent more than six years covering the world of sports betting, during which he has collaborated with some of the most recognised sportsbooks in the UK, including industry leaders such as bet365 and William Hill.