Volkanovski Denies Retirement Rumors Before Lopes Rematch

Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, has firmly dismissed speculation that his upcoming title defense in Sydney will mark the end of his career. The 37-year-old Australian is set to rematch Diego Lopes on January 31, 2025, at Qudos Bank Arena, headlining UFC 325 in front of a home crowd.

Volkanovski reclaimed the vacant featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Lopes in April 2025, following Ilia Topuria's decision to vacate the belt after moving up to lightweight. Prior to that loss, Volkanovski had successfully defended the title five times between 2019 and 2024. The rematch comes amid a stacked division, with undefeated contenders like Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy often cited as more straightforward next challenges based on their recent performances.

In a recent interview with 10 News Australia, Volkanovski addressed the retirement rumors head-on. "I'm seeing retirement rumors everywhere as well. I don't know where that came from. It hasn't been planned to be my last fight, so you don't really need to worry about that," he said. "I think you've got to just take it as it goes from here on." At 37, he acknowledged the scrutiny over his age...