Volkanovski became a two-time champion with victory over Brazil’s Lopes in April.
“I’ve got a tough fight ahead of me,” said Volkanovski.
“I’m going to get my hand raised and then hopefully a quick turnaround – hopefully minimal damage so I can get right back in there.”
Volkanovski, wearing an apron in a nod to his cooking hobby, was cheered raucously by his home fans throughout the news conference.
After the face-off with 31-year-old Lopes, the pair shook hands before Volkanovski gave him his apron.
Volkanovski beat Max Holloway for his first belt in 2019 and defended it five times before defeat by Ilia Topuria last year.
Following Topuria’s move to lightweight and vacation of the title, Volkanovski regained it with a unanimous decision win over Lopes.
Volkanovski lost twice to Islam Makhachev 2023 in attempting to win the lightweight title and become a simultaneous two-division champion.