Diego Lopes Leaves Broken After Defeat to Alexander Volkanovski

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Feb 2, 2026 3:13 AM ET

SYDNEY — Diego Lopes may have come up short in his second bid to become UFC featherweight champion, but his spirit remains intact even as his body recovers from a brutal night in the octagon.

Following a lopsided loss to Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 325, Lopes was transported to a local hospital in Sydney, where his team revealed that he likely suffered serious injuries to both feet during the five-round title fight.

“Looks like we broke both feet,” Lopes’ team shared after the bout.

While it’s unclear exactly when the injuries occurred, a moment late in the fight offered a possible clue. Lopes appeared to limp noticeably after throwing a kick, and he was later seen favoring his feet as he exited the octagon and walked backstage.

Lopes’ manager, Jason House, summed up the night with a candid post on Instagram.

“Some nights you’re at the afterparty, some nights you’re at the ER,” House wrote. “But every morning I give thanks for the opportunity to live this life with my best friends.”

Diego Lopes says he broke both of his feet during the fight

Image | Source: Dice City Sports
pic.twitter.com/iQQ9yunzaq
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 1, 2026

A Familiar Result, A Tougher Test

The loss marked Lopes’ second defeat to Volkanovski in just 10 months, following their first encounter earlier in the champion’s current reign. Lopes earned the rematch by delivering one of the knockouts of the year a stunning spinning backussian back-elbow finish of Jean Silva this past September.

But the sequel looked much like the original.

Volkanovski appeared even more prepared for Lopes’ size and physicality this time around, using superior footwork, angles, and defensive awareness to neutralize the challenger across 25 minutes. Outside of a brief flash knockdown late in the fight that momentarily caught the champion off balance, Lopes struggled to generate sustained offense.

Whenever Lopes attempted to press forward, Volkanovski countered with speed, precision, and veteran composure hallmarks that have defined his reign atop the featherweight division.

Champion Stands Firm

By the final horn, the outcome was never in doubt. Volkanovski retained his title via unanimous decision, with judges scoring the contest 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.

The victory likely closes the door on a third meeting for the foreseeable future, so long as Volkanovski remains champion. For Lopes, the focus now shifts to recovery and regrouping after a courageous but costly effort on the sport’s biggest stage.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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