Alexander Volkanovski delivered a decisive statement at UFC 325 on Saturday, successfully defending his featherweight title against Diego Lopes by unanimous decision in Sydney. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45, marking the first defense of his second championship reign and tying Jose Aldo’s record for most title-fight wins in featherweight history.
Alexander Volkanovski on His Next Match
Following the victory, Volkanovski made his expectations clear about future challengers. “I’m an easy champ to understand, man. If you deserve it, you’re next,” he said during the post-fight press conference. “I’ve never been the guy trying to protect anything or pick and choose. You go out there, you beat the right guys, you earn your spot, and I’ll be there waiting for you. What I don’t like is people trying to skip the queue. You can’t just cut the line because you talk loud or had one good night. There’s killers in this division who have been grinding for years for that opportunity.”
The Australian champion expressed frustration with fighters attempting to bypass legitimate contenders. “I’ve always said the same thing: give me the worthy contender. I built my legacy on taking out number one contenders, not on chasing the easiest name or the biggest headline,” Volkanovski explained. “So if you want that shot, go handle your business. Don’t look for shortcuts. Don’t ask to jump over guys who’ve been doing it longer and doing it against tougher opposition. You want the champ, you’ve got to earn the champ.”
Volkanovski clarified his criteria for determining the next challenger extends beyond official rankings. “I don’t care about rankings on paper as much as I care about what you’ve actually done. Are you beating top guys? Are you taking out other contenders? That’s what matters,” he stated. “If you’re ranked eleven and you’ve knocked off three killers in a row, we can talk. But if you’re trying to talk your way into a shot while other guys are out there doing the hard yards, I’m not really interested in letting that happen.”
At 37 years old, the champion emphasized his commitment to remaining active while being selective about matchups. “I still want to be active. I don’t want to sit around and wait. But at the same time, I’m not in a rush to just fight anyone for the sake of it,” Volkanovski said. “At this stage of my career, every fight has to mean something. It has to move my legacy forward, it has to be a challenge that excites me, and it has to be against someone who’s truly earned the right to share that cage with me.”
When asked about specific opponents, Volkanovski identified undefeated Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy as his preferred options. “You’ve got Movsar and Lerone Murphy. I’ve been told they’re going to face each other. I don’t know if those are just rumors, but that’ll be great. I’ll be watching that. If my next one is definitely featherweight, it’s gotta be one of those two,” he told reporters.
The UFC answered Volkanovski’s call just days later. On Monday, the promotion officially announced that Evloev and Murphy will meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night on March 21 at the O2 Arena in London. The winner is expected to earn the next title shot against Volkanovski. Evloev, ranked number one in the division, carries a perfect 19-0 record into the bout, while Murphy sits at number three with a 17-0-1 mark and a nine-fight winning streak dating back to a 2019 draw.
Evloev has not competed since December 2024, when he defeated former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling by decision at UFC 310. His resume includes wins over Sterling, Diego Lopes, and British contender Arnold Allen. Murphy last fought in August at UFC 319, where he stopped Aaron Pico with a spinning back elbow in the first round, earning widespread recognition as a knockout of the year candidate.
“My legacy is built on consistency. It’s not just one big win or one big night; it’s turning up again and again, taking the toughest fights, and still finding a way to get your hand raised,” Volkanovski reflected. “People can say what they want, but you can’t argue with a body of work. That’s why I want worthy contenders, because every time I beat one, it adds another strong chapter to that story.”
