Alexander Volkanovski is once again the undisputed king of the featherweight division.
Despite being 36 years old and coming off two consecutive defeats, Volkanovski turned back time and secured a convincing victory by decision against Diego Lopes. This win earned him the vacant 145-pound championship. Volkanovski previously lost the belt to Ilia Topuria via knockout in February 2024, but with Topuria`s move to the lightweight division, the featherweight title was once again open.
Volkanovski lived up to expectations, outclassing the younger Lopes throughout five rounds. He weathered a late scare in the second round to ultimately win on points. Two judges scored the fight 49-46 in favor of “The Great.” This victory marks Volkanovski`s first win since his successful title defense against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July 2023.
Many fighters expressed their excitement at Volkanovski`s dominant performance. Aljamain Sterling famously declared, “The king is back!”
