Outside Source
On Thursday, the organization released a slew of new matchup information as well as a pair of main events for the first two cards of 2026. The first one will be on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas with Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett squaring off for the interim lightweight belt—and numerous individuals including Arman Tsarukyan are none too thrilled. The second takes place a week later in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 31. That UFC 325 show will feature a featherweight championship rematch pitting Alexander Volkanovski against Diego Lopes.
The adverse reaction was nearly instant, with many decrying the re-use of Lopes for winning just one after losing to Volkanovski earlier in the year. Two other unbeaten fighters in Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy were also suggesting they were available, and former bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling also piped in about what they perceived to be strange matchmaking.
Chief among those with surprise and a bit of disappointment was the man wearing the crown himself, Volkanovski. The City Kickboxing product firmly believed there were more deserving options, but he did understand that the UFC is a mix of sport and entertainment that sometimes rewards excitement over merit.
“Obviously, we all know that I wanted to fight earlier,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel on Thursday. “I wanted…I thought [my next bout] was going to be December. We thought Lerone Murphy, December. Then, the UFC [was] waiting for Jean Silva and Lopes [at Noche UFC], then they were saying Lopes. And we’re like, ‘We just fought that guy, [are] there more deserving people…or not?’ Whatever, everybody knows that I’ll fight anyone, so whoever they put in front of me, I’ll [fight].”
It’s Not About ‘Who’s the Best’ Anymore
Both the aforementioned Evloev and Murphy voiced their immediate disapproval for being skipped over in the featherweight queue by a man who already lost in a title shot this year. The Brit (17-0-1) suggested that losing a de facto popularity contest hurt his chances at fighting for gold, given the performances turned in by names like Yair Rodriguez and Lopes that earn multiple cracks at the belt.
“Missing the opportunity to fight one of the featherweight’s GOATs is what hurts me the most,” Murphy lamented on social media. “It’s not about ‘who’s the best’ anymore. It’s about ‘who’s most popular.’”
Russia’s Evloev, sporting a record of 19-0 with nine victories in the Octagon to date, also felt he was worthy of challenging for the featherweight throne. Like Murphy, Evloev’s fight style has ample detractors, only Evloev has the unique stretch of nine straight decisions to start his UFC tenure, a feat no fighter has accomplished. Ever the opportunist, Evloev tried to make lemonade out of lemons.
“[Lerone] Murphy I will give you the opportunity to fight the number one contender,” wrote Evloev. “Tell your people you’re ready to fight me on the same card as the championship.”
Just outside Sherdog’s top 10 at featherweight, Sterling recently suffered a loss to Evloev that at least put him behind the Russian in terms of immediate title contention. While he bounced back by taking a decision over Brian Ortega in August, “Funk Master” recognizes where he is in the landscape and feels that Evloev—who won a decision over Lopes in May 2023—was left hanging.
Sterling posted on social media, “I agree with Lerone. Even if I didn’t get it, him or Movsar for sure should’ve been the guy. Movsar got passed over by Lopes once, and he gets another opportunity for gold lol. Fair play to Lopes, but you can see why guys start to lose love for the game. Cold world.”
I agree with Lerone. Even if I didn’t get it, him or Movsar for sure should’ve been the guy. Movsar got passed over by Lopes once, and he gets another opportunity for gold lol. Fair play to Lopes, but you can see why guys start to lose love for the game. Cold world. https://t.co/8roU4mxj11
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) November 28, 2025
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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