Alex Volkanovski is closely watching the featherweight division after Diego Lopes’ wild UFC Noche win over Jean Silva.
Lopes finished Silva by TKO at 4:48 of round two with a spinning back elbow, the same strike that Silva had hunted all fight.
Silva pressed forward aggressively in round two, landing big shots. Lopes countered perfectly, slicing him open before finishing the fight with ground-and-pound.
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“Wild two rounds,” Volkanovski said in a recent video posted to his YouTube channel.
“I didn’t expect Diego to look so dominant early.”
The featherweight champion reclaimed the belt at UFC 314 in April against Lopes, but is already throwing his name back into the list of potential contenders for his next fight.
“Does Diego get a rematch? Crazy fight like that, wild fashion again doing what he always does,” he said.
“I know the UFC absolutely loves him.”
Volkanovski also referenced Lerone Murphy, who recently knocked out Aaron Pico with a spinning elbow of his own at UFC 319.
“I know that Lerone Murphy is coming off of a big knockout against Pico,” he said.
“I should get some information on that very soon.”
Lopes’ win reinforces his status as a top featherweight, and Murphy’s highlight-reel knockout strengthens his claim for a title shot.
Volkanovski suggested that December could be the window for his next fight, giving the UFC time to set up a high-profile matchup.
The featherweight division remains unpredictable after former champion Ilia Topuria vacated his belt in pursuit of the lightweight crown.
Lopes and Murphy are both dangerous, meaning Volkanovski’s next fight promises to be another thrilling showdown.
