Alexander Volkanovski: Diego Lopes not 'deserving' of UFC 325 rematch

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski did not expect to fight Diego Lopes again.

Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) rematches Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in the UFC 325 headliner on Jan. 31 from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (Paramount+). Volkanovski defeated Lopes by unaninmous decision at UFC 314 in April to capture the vacant title, which Ilia Topuria relinquished to move to lightweight.

Initially, Volkanovski was targeting the first title defense of his second reign to be against either undefeated contenders Lerone Murphy or Movsar Evloev, but Lopes jumped right back into the title picture after a knockout of Jean Silva in September.

"Obviously, I wanted to fight a bit earlier," Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. "I thought it was going to be December. We thought Lerone Murphy, December, then I guess the UFC were waiting for Jean Silva and Lopes. Then they were saying Lopes, and obviously we're like, 'We just fought that guy. Is there more deserving people or not?' Everyone knows I'll fight anyone."

Volkanovski tried to justify the UFC's decision to give Lopes the rematch in this spot, even though it wasn't his choice.

"UFC really wanted Lopes, but at least everyone knows they're in for a treat," Volkanovski added. 'It's going to be a very exciting fight. With Movsar and Lerone, they're more deserving, but are they going to bring the fight like Lopes would? I think the fans are going to appreciate the fight that me and Lopes are going to have."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Alexander Volkanovski reacts to Diego Lopes rematch at UFC 325