Face off! Alex Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes first staredown video for UFC 325 rematch

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will rematch No. 2-ranked Diego Lopes atop the UFC 325 mixed martial arts (MMA) event this weekend in Australia, despite the existence of more deserving contenders. I’m cynical enough to believe that matchmakers are just slapping together whatever fights are convenient, somehow convincing themselves that fans are just happy to get a numbered event without the $80 price tag.

Watch Volkanovski stare down Lopes in the video below.

Not to sound overly-disputatious, but I believe business was indeed finished at UFC 314.

“I think fans will never be fully happy with anything,” Lopes told MMA Junkie. “I want to present a few points. If the fight was for Lerone Murphy, people are going to say he doesn’t deserve it because he beat a guy that wasn’t in the UFC and wasn’t ranked. If they give the fight to Evloev, they would say that Movsar hasn’t fought in a year, has pulled out of so many fights, and has never finished anyone. People will criticize it, just in a different manner. If they give me the fight, people complain. If they give the fight to Yair Rodriguez, people would complain, as well.”

“So, if you lay it all out, fans are never going to be fully happy,” Lopes continued. “They will always have something to say. They would say, ‘Oh, you beat No. 10 in the rankings. Okay, so if that doesn’t give you a title fight, then beating someone who’s debuting and not in the ranking will? Or not fighting for a year gets you a title shot? There’s so many things you can point out to. I’m only here to do my job. I said that before my fight. I’m going to do my job, finish the fight impressively and leave my name off the table. If they give me a title shot, I’m taking. It’s the UFC’s decision, and that’s why I’m here.”

He’s not the only one there.

To see the finalized UFC 325 fight card and Paramount+ lineup click here.