Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski headlines the UFC 325 fight card in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 1 in a rematch against No. 2 ranked Diego Lopes, but believes others were more deserving of the title shot. The fight promotion made the announcement.
“There you go. Official,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “It was a bit of work involved. Obviously, we all know that I wanted to fight earlier. I wanted, I thought it was going to be December. We thought Lerone Murphy, December. I guess the UFC and they were waiting for Jean Silva and Lopes.”
Volkanovski defeated Lopes via unanimous decision in his last fight at UFC 314 this past April. Lopes last fought in September, rebounding from the loss defeating Silva by TKO in dramatic fashion.
“Obviously, we’re like, we just fought that guy. Is there more deserving people whatnot? Whatever. Everyone knows that I’ll fight anyone. Whoever they put in front of me I’ll do,” Volkanovski said.
“I thought it was Movsar [Evloev] was deserving. Lerone Murphy. I thought those were the two guys. They’re the guys I called out. The UFC really wanted Lopes. At least everyone knows they’re in for a treat. It’s going to be a very exciting fight.
“Movsar and Lerone, you know, they’re probably a bit more deserving,” continued Volkanovski. “I think the fans are going to appreciate the fight that me and Lopes are going to have, but it is what it is. Whoever they put in front of me, let’s go.”