UFC 325: B/R Main Card Staff Predictions

UFC 324 in Las Vegas last Saturday was the promotion's first event in weeks. For any fight fans still processing last weekend's action in Sin City, it's time to switch gears.

The promotion's second event of 2026, UFC 325, is just days away. It's unusual for the UFC to promote numbered cards on back-to-back weekends, but here we are. It's a good problem to have.

UFC 325 goes down this Saturday in Sydney, Australia.

The headlining spot will go to Australia's greatest fighter, two-time featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski. He'll be defending his title against Diego Lopes, whom he defeated by decision last year to reclaim the vacant featherweight title.

It's not a rematch anybody really wanted to see—at least not so soon—but it remains a compelling contest that could end any number of ways despite the result of the first fight.

Outside the main event, UFC 325 looks a bit thin on paper. However, every fight on the main card has a high potential for action.

The co-main event will see New Zealand's Dan Hooker take on France's Benoit Saint-Denis in a classic striker versus grappler fight.

Elsewhere on the card, we'll get a lightweight clash between Rafael Fiziev and Mauricio Ruffy—both ranked contenders. We'll also get a heavyweight clash between Aussie favorite Tai Tuivasa and Brazil's Tallison Teixeira, and a lightweight showdown between Quillan Salkilld and Jamie Mullarkey.

Here's how the B/R fighting team sees it shaking out.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes

Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Lyle Fitzsimmons

Mea culpa, here. I picked Lopes the first time because I didn't think Volkanovski - coming off brutal losses to Makhachev and Topuria - would have enough to offset a young, strong and hungry opponent. But he did. And it'll be a while before I pick against him again. Somehow, the 37-year-old seems refreshed and reinvigorated. And considering he's fighting at home and has visualized what it'd be like to win a Sydney main event on a numbered card, Lopes seems like he's in too deep. 

Prediction: Volkanovski by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor

I just saw this fight, and the living legend Volkanovski handled it. That's why I hate this rematch. Volkanovski has already dealt with this contender, but Lopes is young enough, and armed with sufficient weaponry, to win this do-over, and erase last year's result. I hate that. I would favor Volkanovski over Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, both of whom deserve a title opportunity over Lopes, over Lopes. But I'm backing Lopes this time.

I hate this prediction, but I think Lopes knocks "Volk" out in an opportunity he doesn't deserve. I see a strong first round for the champ, and a great second round for the undue challenger. Call it an uppercut.

Prediction: Lopes by KO, Rd. 2

Nick Akerman

Do we see a calmer Volk in this fight? He dominated Lopes in their first battle, but Lopes did score a knockdown that may well give him the fuel to upset a legend on home turf.

There's no doubt the longer this goes on, the more likely it is that Volk squeezes out another win. His relative inactivity does concern me a little, having only fought once in 2025 and 2024. I don't like doubting Volkanovski, but factors you can't control begin to add up against you in this game.

Lopes knows he can inflict real damage. My gut is telling me there's a watershed moment for him to be had if he can weather the scrappiness and energy of a man who will be desperate to entertain his people. My heart says Volk, my head says Lopes. Got to back the head.

Prediction: Lopes by TKO, Rd. 3.

Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint-Denis

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Lyle Fitzsimmons

This is a tough call. While both are clearly world-class lightweights, each has fallen short when given an opportunity against the very top of the division. Hooker didn't make it out of the second round against Arman Tsarukyan on a Fight Night show three months ago, while Saint-Denis met his match against Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano in 2024. My instant reaction when I heard this one was put together was that Hooker would win, so I'll stick with that and not be too surprised if it goes backward.

Prediction: Hooker by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor

Dan Hooker talks an awful lot for a guy who has never been that great of a fighter.

That snide remark probably tells you all you need to know about my prediction. I don't think Hooker can grapple with the best fighters in his division—in spite of his win over Mateusz Gamrot. I don't think he can strike with the best fighters in his division, either.

I think Saint-Denis absolutely cooks him. Maybe he rocks him on the feet in round one, maybe he doesn't. But he'll be submitting him in round two.

Prediction: Saint-Denis by submission, Rd. 2

Nick Akerman

It sounds like Hooker is trying to tempt Paddy Pimblett into a fight after the Scouser's weekend loss. Hooker's comments may well put a few more eyes on this one, so he needs to respond with a big performance.

Unfortunately for the Australian, Saint-Denis will prove too much. Arman Tsarukyan put up over six minutes of control time in his demolition of the Hangman.

Saint-Denis will use that blueprint to sap this one away from his opponent. Once Hooker is down, the clock is ticking. He's just not built to beat this type of submission artist at this stage of his career.

Prediction: Saint-Denis via submission, Rd. 2.

Rafael Fiziev vs Mauricio Ruffy

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Lyle Fitzsimmons

Call it a high-end crossroads bout between one guy who's won once since a three-fight skid and another who finally lost after having won three in a row. Neither the Azerbaijani nor the Brazilian is on home turf, so we'll go with youth and size as the tiebreakers and ride with the Fighting Nerd in another close one.

Prediction: Ruffy by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor

I'll keep this one brief. I will always—always—pick the controlled, tactical muay thai fighter over the flashy, rangy, side-on stance karate stylist. Rafael Fiziev is a proven commodity with great offense and defense. Mauricio Ruffy is neither of those things. He does some cool things sometimes—usually at the expense of washed-up fighters and unproven prospects—but I picture him having a career like Uriah Hall, who also did cool things, but achieved very little. Fiziev dominates him with tight combos in the pocket. I would not be surprised by a KO, but I'll give the "Fighting Nerds" rep some credit.

Prediction: Fiziev by unanimous decision

Nick Akerman

I'm finding this one tough to call. I think this will be a war of attrition, with both guys taking rounds, but I wonder if Ruffy's reach advantage and patience will get the job done. Fiziev may well opt to close the distance and grapple, but you have to question if he's got the power or output to stop Ruffy.

Prediction: Ruffy by unanimous decision.

Tai Tuivasa vs. Tallison Teixeira

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Lyle Fitzsimmons

Remember when Tuivasa was surging after a second-round wipeout of Derrick Lewis four years ago at UFC 271? Five straight losses, including four by finishes, have a way of changing perception. But he's a popular guy with a novel celebration, and there's going to be a big crowd hoping to share a shooey or two after he engages with Teixeira.

I'd normally assume five straight losses would automatically yield a sixth, but Teixeira was so thoroughly unimpressive in his shot against Lewis that it wouldn't be shocking to see "Bam Bam" squash him, too. 

Prediction: Tuivasa by TKO, Rd. 1

Tom Taylor

I'm with Lyle on this one. While I firmly believe Tuivasa is more of a novelty than a serious contender, I don't think Teixeira is either. You don't get knocked out by Derrick Lewis in 2025 if you're an elite heavyweight.

Tuivasa gets this done quick, if only to get out of the cage, and back to his diehard fans, and the horrid shoes-full of beer they'll offer him as he walks back to his dressing room. Am I the only person who would choose fighting Tallison Teixeira over drinking warm beer from another person's dank shoe? I love beer, but I prefer a glass.

Prediction: Tuivasa by KO, Rd. 1

Nick Akerman

It's a testimony to Tuivasa that he's still in the UFC after five straight losses. While he typically faces the upper echelon, Teixeira should feel more winnable than the likes of Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov and others have in recent times.

Teixeira tried to start on the front foot with aggression against Derrick Lewis, and ended up just making himself massively hittable. The knockout loss should give Tai reason to believe he'll get a win; Teixeira's legs will be there for chopping and he'll be in range to land a fight-ending blow.

Prediction: Tuivasa by TKO, Rd. 1.

Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey

Lyle Fitzsimmons

The card starts with a "get over" fight for Salkilld, who won three straight and finished two in less than a round in 2025 after a Contender Series arrival in 2024. It won't be easy, but it should be enough to get past the rugged Mullarkey, who's fallen to .500 in the promotion after three losses in his last five fights. 

Prediction: Salkilld by submission, Rd. 2

Tom Taylor

This is another easy one.

Give me Salkilld, the guy who just wiped out a solid opponent in Nasrat Haqparast, over Mullarkey, a fun fighter who has been stopped in nearly all of his many UFC losses. Not trying to be a hater, but this is a mismatch. I'd love to be wrong, but I just can't see it.

Prediction: Salkilld by KO, Rd. 1

Nick Akerman

I see this one being quite straightforward for Salkilld. The 10-1 Aussie hasn't experienced defeat since his pro debut and is unbeaten in the UFC. His highlight reel head kick sent Nasrat Haqparast face first into the canvas; a stand-up-and-take-notice moment for a fighter who is progressing with real confidence.

Mullarkey is an unspectacular opponent who has been playing ping pong with wins and losses across his UFC career. I'm going for another spectacular Salkilld win against an opponent who is out of his depth.

Prediction: Salkilld by TKO, Rd. 2.