Australian Alexander Volkanovski has regained the Ultimate Fighting Championship Featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Brazilian Diego Lopes.
After five brutal rounds, Volkanovski (27 wins, four losses) weathered a knockdown and temporary blindness after a brutal uppercut at the Kaseya Centre in Miami to become the undisputed division champion.
The 36-year-old is now a two-time champion of the division after losing the belt in 2024 to Ilia Topuria.
Volkanovski made history as the first fighter aged over 35 to win a UFC title fight at 155 pounds and lighter after other bidders were 0-17 in the competition.
The judges awarded Volkanovski the fight 48-47, 49-46, 49-46.
“It’s good to be back. To everyone watching, adversity is a privilege,” the victorious Aussie said in the ring after the unanimous verdict.
“You hear people talk about that all the time. It really is. This moment is incredible.
“A lot of people counted me out coming off two knockout losses,” Volkanovski said.
“To come back and beat a gun like Diego Lopes, who’s come and brang it, it’s good to be back.”
Significant strikes in what was a brutal, technical and flurry-filled contest at Kaseya Centre in Miami favoured the Australian through all five rounds.
Volkanovski landed 134 to Lopes’s 67, the most coming in round four in what was the Australian’s 10th straight title fight.
Championship rounds are where UFC fighters prove their mettle and Lopes had his opponent scrambling earlier in the fourth round after a jab glanced Volkanovski’s left eye before a vicious uppercut followed.
Volkanovski could be seen wiping his eye while moving around the octagon as Lopes hunted him down.
“I’m starting to get my eyesight back now,” Volkanovski told his corner before round five.
Volkanovski returned to his consistent left jab in the final round as Lopes pointed to the middle of the octagon in attempts to bait a wild, swinging finish.
His jab was a key weapon early in the fight as Volkanovski managed his taller and lankier opponent, who had shown brutal knockout power on a five-fight win streak to Sunday’s title bout.
But it was Volkanovski who showed raw power early on, stunning Lopes with a powerful left hook that sent him into the cage.
Again, the same combination worked in round two when a similar left hook rocked Lopes but the Brazilian showed an impressive chin and fired right back.
An overhand right with less than 10 seconds in the round floored Volkanovski. He looked in clear danger before the bell rang.
“What was that?” a stunned Volkanovski asked his corner.
The Australian went back to level changes in round three and did well to weather the storm after an emboldened Lopes came out with more gumption.
Lopes fought with terrific heart and proved to the UFC he belongs among the top of the division in his first title fight and first five-round bout.
with AAP
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/04/13/alexander-the-great-volkanovski-vanquishes-brazilian-rival-to-regain-ufc-crown/‘This moment is incredible’: Alexander the Great vanquishes Brazilian rival to regain UFC crown
إرسال تعليق