For the first time in two years, Australian fight fans are preparing for a monumental moment as Alex Volkanovski returns to compete on home soil, headlining a blockbuster UFC event scheduled for early February in Sydney. The celebrated featherweight champion will step back into the octagon for a highly anticipated rematch against Brazilian rising star Diego Lopes, elevating what is already shaping up to be one of the biggest MMA spectacles held in Australia in recent memory.
Volkanovski, affectionately known by supporters and global audiences as "The Great", has long been one of the UFC’s most dominant and admired competitors. His immense popularity, combined with his achievements in the featherweight division, has made him a sporting icon and a national hero in Australian combat sports. After spending the last several years competing primarily abroad, his confirmed return to Australia has ignited widespread excitement from fans eager to witness the Wollongong warrior defend his crown on familiar territory.
The upcoming showdown between Volkanovski and Lopes will mark their second meeting inside the cage, following a fiercely contested bout earlier this year in Miami. During their April clash, Volkanovski reclaimed the vacant UFC featherweight championship through a unanimous decision, demonstrating his trademark precision, relentless pace, and tactical brilliance. The victory reaffirmed his position among the UFC’s elite after a challenging period of injury setbacks and division shake-ups.
This return holds significant emotional weight for Volkanovski. His last appearance on Australian soil occurred in February 2023 in Perth, when he stepped up a weight class attempting to seize the lightweight title from Islam Makhachev. Although he fell short in that courageous endeavour, the performance showcased his fearlessness and willingness to chase greatness. Even more notable is the fact that he has not fought in his home state of New South Wales since 2017. With Volkanovski now 37 and openly acknowledging that retirement may not be far off, this event is being viewed as perhaps the final opportunity for many local supporters to watch him compete live.
Hopes are high that Sydney Olympic Park will be filled to capacity, with organisers predicting a sell-out crowd long before fight night. Lopes, holding an impressive record of 27 wins and seven losses, enters the rematch with both confidence and determination. The Brazilian athlete bounced back strongly after his loss to Volkanovski, defeating Jean Silva in September during a high-energy bout in Texas. His resilience and hunger for redemption have fueled anticipation that this rematch could produce fireworks, as he seeks vengeance against the man who halted his initial title pursuit.
Speculation earlier in the year hinted at the possibility of another Aussie favourite, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, securing a co-headline position on the UFC 325 card. However, those rumours were put to rest after Whittaker publicly withdrew from consideration, citing various personal and professional factors influencing his decision.
The announcements from UFC president Dana White extended beyond Australia’s mega event. White has also revealed that UFC 324 will take place a week earlier in Las Vegas, delivering a stacked lineup that will set the tone for consecutive weekends of elite MMA action. Among the highlights is an interim lightweight title fight between American powerhouse Justin Gaethje and charismatic British contender Paddy Pimblett. This matchup has generated considerable buzz due to both fighters’ explosive styles and passionate fan bases.
The interim championship was booked after reigning lightweight champion Ilia Topuria stepped aside temporarily due to personal reasons. However, White was quick to clarify Topuria’s status, stating that the Georgian-Spanish star will not be stripped of his title. According to White, “the winner of the highly-anticipated Gaethje-Pimblett fight will meet the Georgian/Spanish big gun for the undisputed crown later in 2026,” ensuring that the lightweight division will remain one of the most engaging and competitive categories in the UFC.
Adding even more star power to the already packed schedule, America’s women’s bantamweight sensation Kayla Harrison is set to defend her title against one of the greatest female fighters in UFC history, Amanda Nunes. The legendary Brazilian, long considered a trailblazer in women’s MMA, is making a surprising return from retirement for what will be her first professional fight since June 2023. Fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating this matchup, viewing Nunes’ comeback as a major storyline that adds emotional depth and historical impact to the event cycle.
Taken together, the series of announcements has positioned early 2025 as a monumental period for the UFC, with Australian fans in particular standing to benefit. Volkanovski’s return alone is enough to command national attention, but the broader slate of world-class bouts ensures that MMA followers across the globe will be closely tuned in.
As the countdown begins toward February 1, excitement is mounting not only for the championship showdown between Volkanovski and Lopes but for the significance of the event itself. It represents a celebration of Australian combat sports, an opportunity to honour one of the country’s greatest athletes, and a reminder of how deeply the sport continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. For Volkanovski, who has defined an era through grit, ambition, and unshakable focus, this homecoming may stand as one of the defining chapters of his storied career.
