UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has added to his already magnificent MMA career with an impressive and record-equalling points win over Brazilian challenger Diego Lopes.
Two judges scored Sunday’s fight in Sydney 49-46 and the third one 50-45, as 37-year-old New South Wales MMA star Volkanovski moved level with legend Jose Aldo on eight featherweight title wins.
It was the first defence of his second reign as champion, after winning the vacant title against Lopes last April.
Respecting his opponent’s power, Volkanovski showed his renowned fighting nous, utilising movement well and rarely allowed the hard-hitting Brazilian to tag him.
Volkanovski consistently landed right-hand punches to the head, and his left jab also found the target frequently in his first fight in Sydney in over eight years.
Lopes stuffed several takedown attempts through the first four rounds, but Volkanovski got him to the ground in the fifth round of the contest at Qudos Bank Arena.
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has added to his already magnificent MMA career with an impressive and record-equalling points win over Diego Lopes
It was the first defence of his second reign as champion, after winning the vacant title against Lopes last April
Volkanovski consistently landed right-hand punches to the head, and his left jab also found the target frequently in his first fight in Sydney in over eight years
‘I wanted to take him down and grab hold of him and put him down but he’s strong,’ Volkanovski said.
‘I didn’t want to stand for 25 minutes, I’ll be honest, but we got the job done.
‘We were ready for him to make the right adjustments; his team did a good job,’ added Volkanovski.
‘Obviously, we learnt from the last fight, we moved to the right and did a great job of cutting that off straight away, but that just means I can use all my other tools.
‘I made the adjustments, that’s what makes a true champion.’
In a co-main event between ranked lightweights, No.8 Benoit Saint Denis of France scored a second-round TKO over No.6, Dan Hooker of New Zealand.
Of the 11 Australians in action, seven won.
Perth’s Quillan Salkilld called for a ranked opponent after securing his fourth UFC win inside 12 months with an impressive first-round submission of more experienced compatriot Jamie Mullarkey.
Popular Sydney heavyweight Tai Tuivasa suffered a sixth straight loss.
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Alexander Volkanovski equals star MMA fighter’s record as Aussie dominates Diego Lopes at UFC 325