🥊 UFC 325 RECAP: Volkanovski Proves Why He’s STILL The Great.

By Cody Merrow | Fight Bananas

WHAT IS UP Fight Bananas family!

WOW. Just… WOW. 🔥🔥🔥

If you had ANY doubts about Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski heading into UFC 325 — and let’s be honest, after the market started shifting toward Diego Lopes all week, some of you did — those doubts should be GONE now. What we just witnessed was a masterclass. A reminder. A statement that said: “I’m still here, and I’m STILL the best featherweight on the planet.”

Volkanovski defeats Diego Lopes via UNANIMOUS DECISION to reclaim the UFC Featherweight Championship, and goddamn if it wasn’t the performance we needed to see from him.

🥊 The Market Was Right (Mostly)

Okay, let’s talk about what we talked about in the market preview earlier this week. Remember, both Polymarket and FanDuel had Volkanovski at about 59% implied probability to win this fight. Diego Lopes was sitting at roughly 42-44% depending on the platform. The line had drifted TOWARD Lopes all week — opening at -166 for Volk and closing at -146 — which told us the sharp money was seeing something in Lopes.

And you know what? They weren’t wrong to respect Lopes. This kid showed up, showed OUT, and made Volkanovski WORK for every single second of that fight. But at the end of the night, the market called it correctly. Volk was the favorite for a reason, and he proved exactly why.

If you bet Volkanovski on FanDuel at -146, congratulations — you cashed. If you grabbed him on Polymarket at 59 cents, same deal. The prediction market nailed the probability, and the sportsbook gave you a clean payout. That’s what smart betting looks like, family. 👍️👍️👍️

🥊 Round-by-Round — How Volk Got It Done

Let me give you the quick breakdown, because this fight was CLOSE and it was TECHNICAL:

Round 1: Volkanovski comes out sharp, establishes the jab, controls distance. Lopes is patient, looking to counter. Close round, but I’m giving it to Volk 10-9.

Round 2: Lopes starts finding his rhythm here — lands a couple heavy shots that get Volk’s attention. This is where I thought, “Okay, the market movement makes sense.” Lopes looked DANGEROUS. I’ve got this one for Lopes 10-9.

Round 3: This is where Volkanovski does what CHAMPIONS do. He makes the adjustment. Starts mixing in level changes, threatens the takedown, keeps Lopes guessing. By the end of the round, Volk is controlling the pace again. Volk 10-9.

Round 4: Volkanovski’s gas tank is just DIFFERENT. Lopes is still game, still dangerous, but Volk is starting to pull away. More volume, better positioning, smarter fight IQ. Volk 10-9.

Round 5: Championship rounds separate the good from the GREAT, and Volkanovski showed us why he’s in that second category. Dominated the final five minutes, closed the show like a veteran. Volk 10-9.

My Scorecard: 49-46 Volkanovski
Official Scorecard: Unanimous Decision — Volkanovski

The judges got it right. No controversy, no complaints. Volk won that fight, and he won it clearly.

“I’m glad that I just get to prove them wrong every single time.”

Alexander Volkanovski (@AlexVolkanovski) proves once again the division still runs through him at #UFC325.

Results, highlights & more ➡️: https://t.co/YQ79SxFy8p pic.twitter.com/Hp2IoHcApd

— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 1, 2026

🥊 What This Means Moving Forward

Here’s the thing — and I don’t say this lightly — Alexander Volkanovski just reminded the entire featherweight division that the throne is HIS. We’ve seen him go through wars. We’ve seen him take damage. We’ve seen him lose to Islam Makhachev up at lightweight. And there were whispers — quiet whispers — that maybe Volk’s best days were behind him.

NOT TODAY, VOLK. NOT TODAY! 🔥

This performance was clean, calculated, and championship-level from start to finish. He neutralized Lopes’ power, he controlled the pace, and he showed that elite-level fight IQ that makes him one of the best to ever do it at 145 pounds.

As for Diego Lopes — man, you gotta’ feel for the kid, but also… Good on ya’, Diego. He showed up on the biggest stage of his life and FOUGHT. He didn’t wilt, he didn’t fold, and he proved he belongs in title conversations. This isn’t the last time we’re going to see Lopes fighting for gold. Mark my words.

🥊 The Betting Takeaway

If you followed the market review and bet Volkanovski, whether on FanDuel or Polymarket, you made money tonight. And that’s the point of doing this work, family — we’re not just watching fights, we’re watching WHERE the money is moving and WHY.

The market gave Volk a 59% chance. He delivered. That’s what betting smart looks like.

And if you grabbed that DraftKings sign-up bonus with code “AFPOD”, I hope you used it to make tonight even sweeter. 👇🏻

🔥 DraftKings Sportsbook — Code AFPOD 🔥

NEVER DOUBT THE CHAMP💪

It’s never a bad idea to pick an Alexander Volkanovski win 📈 pic.twitter.com/DZ7bsW43Wo

— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) February 1, 2026

🥊 Join The Conversation

What did YOU think of Volk’s performance? Did Lopes do enough to earn another shot down the line? Reply and let me know — and don’t forget to send in your HOT TAKES for next week!

📱 Follow me on X for live reactions and all the UFC coverage:

@cody_merrow

And if you’re not locked in on The Anik & Florian Podcast yet — what are you waiting for? We break down every fight, every market move, and everything in between. LET’S GO! 🥊

Cody Merrow is the Live Producer of “The Anik & Florian Podcast” and “Remember The Show” in the MMA space, as well as “The Gresh & Anik Show” covering New England sports. Formerly of MMA Underground (The UG) as a media member, social director, and lead writer for the “Pound 4 Pound Podcast” newsletter. Avid golfer (15 handicap) and proud father to a King Charles Cavalier. Follow him on X @ cody_merrow

Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment and informational purposes. Please gamble responsibly.