Fights to Make After UFC 325

Sportz Nation Staff
1 minute ago
5 min read

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen

Sportz Nation - 2/2/2026

Alexander Volkanovski

vs WINNER of Lerone Murphy vs Mosvar Evloev

Matt Hylen

After watching his post-fight octagon interview, it seemed to me that Volkanovski assumed that he would face the winner of a potential title eliminator between Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy. He was right to assume that, as a title eliminator between the two was announced on Monday afternoon.

Whoever the winner is in this fight absolutely deserves a title shot against Volkanovski. They are both at a point where they are becoming undeniable, so it's smart to pair the two against each other first.

In my opinion, I think Evloev would be the tougher matchup for Volkanovski because of his grappling, but Murphy has the better chance of defeating him. Murphy is far more dangerous on the feet than Evloev, which could be dangerous for Volk and his questionable chin. Evloev is an elite grapple-heavy fighter, but we have seen time and time again the defensive ability of Volkanovski. Thus, Murphy's power and takedown defense would make it an extremely interesting fight against a fighter like Alexander.

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Diego Lopes

vs Aljamain Sterling

Zak Drapeau

Lopes has now had 2 Championship losses with a knockout win over a #10 ranked fighter in between, which means it's back to the drawing board for him. I believe he needs two or three fights at the top of the division now to liven up the Featherweights and show he deserves another shot.

Cue Aljamain Sterling, the #5 Featherweight contender, who is without a fight right now after dominating Brian Ortega 5 months ago. This fight would keep Lopes around the top of the division, it would give Sterling a title eliminator that he deserves, and it should be a much-anticipated fight that could Main Event a Fight Night or Co-Main a Numbered Event.

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Benoit Saint-Denis

vs WINNER of Max Holloway/ Charles Oliveira

Matt Hylen

Benoit Saint-Denis is very quickly becoming one of the most dangerous and balanced fighters in the entire lightweight division. We already know the power he possesses in his hands, but his ground game is becoming quite dangerous. Sure, once you get Dan Hooker to the ground it is basically over, but the way in which Saint-Denis got into the pocket and got him to the ground was very impressive.

While I do think he is a fight away from an undisputed title shot, I do think a BMF title shot is what should be next. Whoever wins the matchup between Holloway and Oliveira will likely be a fight away with Justin Gaethje getting the next title shot. So, putting Saint-Denis against the winner can act as a title eliminator of some sort.

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Dan Hooker

vs Mauricio Ruffy

Photo by Mark Kolbe Photography/ Getty Images

Zak Drapeau

This one is obvious to me. The timeline would be perfect after both competed last weekend, and rankings-wise, it would line up as both should end up around the #7-#10 range after 325.

Hooker is always a gamer and a draw too, with his fights usually being exciting encounters. Ruffy is a star in the making who has 3 KOs in his last 4 victories and will definitely stand 10 toes down with Hooker. It's the right fight to make and sells tickets with Hooker's status, while being crucial to the advancement of the Lightweight division with Ruffy's ascent.

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Tallison Teixeira

vs Shamil Gaziev

Matt Hylen

Tallison Teixeira was a tough fighter to matchmake for. He did not look good on Saturday; he got saved by the bell multiple times and was lucky that Tai Tuivasa looked worse than he did in the stamina department.

So, because he did not get a finish or look good in the win, we felt as though he needs another ranked fight near his level before taking on a guy in the top 10. Shamil Gaziev seems like a perfect candidate; he is coming off a tough loss to Pablo Cortes-Acosta and will need a fight down in order to get back on the upward track.

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Quilan Salkild

vs Rafael Fiziev

Zak Drapeau

Similar to the Hooker vs. Ruffy matchmaking, this fight makes sense based on the timeline and rankings. After Fiziev's 4th loss in 5 fights, it's time for him to defend his ranking against an up-and-comer, and Quilan Salkild might be the best in the division.

4-0 in the UFC with 3 finishes already, Salkild clearly deserves a ranked fighter. At first, I thought of Beneil Dariush, but with Fiziev likely falling to about the #12 ranking in the division, I just think the fight fits, could be a POTN candidate, and also sell some tickets as a Co-Main of a Fight Night or at least a Main Card opener of a Numbered Event.

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Billy Elekana

vs Zhang Mingyang

Matt Hylen

With his second submission win in a row, Billy Elekana is becoming quite the balanced fighter as he makes his way past Junior Tafa. After almost getting finished in round 1, Elekana recovered nicely and got the job done against a worthy opponent.

Elekana showed enough physical and mental toughness, along with finishing ability, to warrant a fight in the rankings next. After taking a loss to Johnny Walker in his last fight, Zhang Mingyang feels to me like a great candidate to take on the upcoming prospect that is Billy Elekana. Mingyang is still a dangerous fighter on the feet, but was brought up too early and needs a fight down. For Elekana, Mingyang poses a great opportunity to showcase the balanced fighter he has become and really elevate his trajectory in the light heavyweight division. Overall, I think this potential matchup could be a stylistic chess match that could get the winner on the upward track.

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Cam Rowston

vs Roman Kopylov

Zak Drapeau

BOY... Rowston might be a problem. A big and confident middleweight who has beaten two legitimate middleweights in Andre Petroski and Cody Brundage by knockout. I believe he now deserves a "ranked fight eliminator" where he'll face a guy like Roman Kopylov, who should be somewhere around the #17 contender in the division.

This makes a lot of sense for both guys, as Kopylov is looking for a fight to get him back in the rankings as well, only leaving the Top 15 after his loss to RoboCop in November. A past knockout artist himself, Kopylov should be game to stand and bang with Rowston in a fight that should land either right at the cusp, if not on the inside, of the Top 15.

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