It’s a quick turnaround for the Kiwi, who has been limited to just one bout since the start of September last year due to injury, after he was handed his first defeat in more than three years against Tsarukyan in Qatar.
Saint Denis comes into the contest riding a three-fight winning streak with two submissions and a knockout – most recently taking American Beneil Dariush’s place in the top 10 – and gets another chance to work his way up in the division.
Saint Deni has been a force at lightweight, but the Frenchman has had his struggles against the division’s elite with his two losses in the division coming against perennial US contender Dustin Poirier and current No 10-ranked Renato Moicano of Brazil.
After an impressive knockout win in his UFC debut, Australian Rowston will take on American Cody Brundage, appearing alongside Tafa’s bouts against another American, Billy Elekana, on the early prelims.
China’s Rongzhu will appear in the featured preliminary bout, looking to halt the momentum of surging Australian Quillan Salkilld.
UFC 325, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, February 1, 2026
Main card
Main event: Alexander Volkanovski (c) v Diego Lopes (2) for the UFC featherweight championship
Lightweight: Dan Hooker (6) v Benoit Saint Denis (8)
Lightweight: Rafael Fiziev (9) v Mauricio Ruffy (14)
Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa (12) v Tallison Teixeira (15)
Light heavyweight: Jimmy Crute v Dustin Jacoby
Preliminary card
Lightweight: Rongzhu v Quillan Salkilld
Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac (7) v Ante Delija (9)
Welterweight: Jonathan Micallef v Oban Elliott
Featherweight: Kaan Ofli v Yizha
Early prelims
Light heavyweight: Junior Tafa v Billy Elekana
Middleweight: Cam Rowston v Cody Brundage
Middleweight: Jacob Malkoun v Torrez Finney
Road To UFC final match-ups will also appear on the card, including New Zealand’s Aaron Tau and Lawrence Lui.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.