Apr 12, 2025; Miami, Florida, UNITED STATES; Alexander Volkanovski (red gloves) fights against Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Joe Lopez didn't see a need for Alexander Volkanovski to run things back with Diego Lopes.

Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) defeated Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) by unanimous decision at UFC 314 to claim the vacant featherweight title. He faces the same opponent in his first defense on Jan. 31 in the UFC 325 headliner at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (Paramount+).

With Volkanovski initially angling for Lerone Murphy in December, and also being open to another undefeated contender in Movsar Evloev, rematching Lopes was a curveball for the champ and his team.

"I guess it was a bit of a shock to anybody," Lopez told Submission Radio. "No disrespect to Diego because I think he's a great fighter, but we just beat him. Movsar and Murphy I think on paper are probably more deserving of that title shot, but we don't call the shots. That's up to the UFC, and they've given us Diego. So, that's the card they've given us and that's what we're going to play."

Volkanovski's head coach Lopez argues that the way the first fight played out does not warrant a second fight so soon.

"It's always been a bit of a popularity contest, who's the most popular," Lopez said. "Whether it's the Paramount deal, I don't know. There's been a lot of negotiations behind the scenes, but at the end of the day, they're the ones calling the shots. I know the fans are not happy.

"A couple of the boys have been telling me about the comments, they're not very favorable. No disrespect to Diego, but like I said, when you're last fight you beat him, and it wasn't like it was a close fight. It was very one-sided. Why not give Murphy or Movsar a go?"

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Joe Lopez on Diego Lopes getting rematch: It's a 'popularity contest'

Reporting by Farah Hannoun, MMA Junkie / MMA Junkie

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