UFC Australia 2026: Volkanovski Defends Title at UFC 325 Sydney as Aussie Fighters Shine

The UFC is back in Australia. And Volkanovski delivered.

UFC 325 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on February 1. Featherweight championship rematch: Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski versus Diego Lopes. Volkanovski retained his title by unanimous decision. Another masterclass from the Wollongong native.

Volkanovski Cements Legacy

At 37 years of age, Alexander Volkanovski showed no signs of slowing down. The Wollongong native controlled the fight from start to finish, using his trademark pressure, volume striking, and superior cardio to neutralise the dangerous Lopes over five rounds. The victory earned Volkanovski another Fight of the Night bonus and tied him with Jose Aldo for the most featherweight title victories in UFC history. He now sits comfortably in the top five of the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.

Australian Fighters at UFC 325

The Sydney card featured several Australian fighters on the undercard. Tai Tuivasa returned from an 18-month layoff to face Tallison Teixeira in a heavyweight bout, but came up short via unanimous decision. Jimmy Crute was originally scheduled to fight on the card but was forced to withdraw due to a ruptured ACL, a devastating blow for the Melbourne light heavyweight who was on a two-fight submission winning streak.

Upcoming Australian UFC Events and Fighters to Watch

While no additional Australian UFC events have been confirmed for 2026 at this stage, several Aussie fighters have big bouts on the horizon. Carlos Ulberg, the New Zealand-born, City Kickboxing-trained light heavyweight ranked number three in the division, is scheduled to face former champion Jiri Prochazka on April 11, 2026, in what could be a title eliminator — the UFC fight odds for that bout will be fascinating given Ulberg’s knockout power against Prochazka’s durability. Casey O’Neill has an upcoming bout against Gabriella Fernandes in the women’s flyweight division, while Jack Jenkins continues to build his reputation as one of Australia’s most promising featherweight prospects.

The State of Australian MMA

Australia’s UFC representation has never been stronger. Volkanovski holds the featherweight belt. Ulberg is knocking on the door of a light heavyweight title shot. Young talents like Steve Erceg, Casey O’Neill, and Jack Jenkins are developing their careers. The future of Australian MMA is bright. The passionate fan base fills arenas whenever the UFC visits, hits the fast payout casinos after the main card, and makes Australia one of the promotion’s most important international markets.

LF — Breaking news correspondent, australiafootball.com