Early UFC 325 Odds, Predictions and Best Value

• UFC 325 takes place Saturday, February 1st from Sydney, Australia
• Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against Diego Lopes in a rematch
• Check out the early UFC 325 odds, predictions and best value below

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We’re getting back-to-back numbered events to kick off 2026. Just one week after UFC 324, the promotion heads to Sydney for UFC 325. Alexander Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against Diego Lopes in a rematch of their April 2025 fight.

The early prelims start at 5 pm ET on Paramount+, with prelims at 7 pm ET and the main card at 9 pm ET. Here are the early UFC 325 odds and my predictions for the card.

Early UFC 325 Odds

Volkanovski is a -148 favorite over Diego Lopes in the rematch. That’s roughly the same price as their first fight despite Volk winning four of five rounds. The implied probability is 59.7% for the champ.

The biggest favorite on the card is Quillan Salkilld at -1050 over Jamie Mullarkey. Benoit Saint-Denis is -340 against Dan Hooker in the co-main. The closest fight is Fiziev vs Ruffy at -122/+102, which has seen sharp money push Ruffy from +140 down to a slight favorite.

Odds as of January 27th at DraftKings Sportsbook. Grab a DraftKings promo code for UFC 325 or browse UFC betting apps.

Early Volkanovski vs Lopes Prediction

Volkanovski dominated the first fight. He nearly tripled Lopes on significant strikes and won four of five rounds on all three scorecards. But Lopes did drop him in the second round, which is concerning given the damage Volk has absorbed in recent years.

The knockouts against Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev were the first stoppage losses of Volk’s career since a welterweight fight in 2013. The chin has been cracked. At 37, that’s a real question mark.

Tale of the Tape

Volk hasn’t fought in nine months, which should help with his durability. Lopes stayed active, knocking out Jean Silva with a spinning backfist in the second round. He also showed improved grappling in that fight, which could be key here.

OMFG!!! Diego Lopes lands 5 DEADLY ELBOWS Directly on top of Jean Silva head in FULL MOUNT 👀😬🚨 #ufcnoche pic.twitter.com/eTDuh4NuS0

— MMA Homie Podcast (@theMMAhomies) September 14, 2025

I think Volk wins this again if it goes to the scorecards. His footwork, wrestling, and fight IQ are still elite. But Lopes has the power to end it, and at this price, I’m not laying -148 on a 37-year-old with recent knockout losses. If you’re betting Lopes, the value is in the method of victory props.

• Volkanovski vs Lopes Early Pick: Diego Lopes by KO/TKO/DQ (+330 at DraftKings)

Early Hooker vs Saint-Denis Prediction

Dan Hooker has been called washed for years now. People said it before Claudio Puelles, before Arnold Allen, before Michael Chandler. And he keeps proving them wrong. But the Arman Tsarukyan fight was different. He had nothing for Tsarukyan on the ground. It was easy work.

Saint-Denis will look to do the same thing. He’s a relentless pressure fighter who can finish you standing or on the mat. His cardio is insane, and he never stops moving forward. If he gets Hooker down, I think he finishes him.

Hooker’s best chance is to keep this standing and make it a firefight. He’s got the reach and experience to win exchanges. But Saint-Denis has shown he can take a shot and keep coming. At -340, the moneyline isn’t worth it, but I like Saint-Denis by submission in the second round.

• Hooker vs Saint-Denis Early Pick: Saint-Denis by Submission (+150 at BetMGM)

Other UFC 325 Predictions

Rafael Fiziev vs Mauricio Ruffy:

This is the most interesting fight on the card from a betting standpoint. Ruffy was as high as +140 in late 2025 and has been bet down to -122. That kind of movement tells you where the sharp money is going. Fiziev is the more technical striker, but Ruffy has more power and doesn’t slow down. I think Ruffy edges a close decision.

• Pick: Mauricio Ruffy (-122)

Tai Tuivasa vs Tallison Teixeira:

Tuivasa is on a five-fight losing streak and has looked terrible. Teixeira is a rising heavyweight with legit knockout power. The under 1.5 rounds at -298 is too juiced, but Teixeira should get the early finish. This won’t last long.

• Pick: Tallison Teixeira by KO Round 1

Quillan Salkilld vs Jamie Mullarkey:

Salkilld is 3-0 in the UFC with three finishes. Mullarkey is 6-6 and inconsistent. At -1050, there’s no value on Salkilld’s moneyline, but he should win this comfortably.

• Pick: Quillan Salkilld by TKO

Jacob Malkoun vs Torrez Finney:

Finney needed three wins on Dana White’s Contender Series to finally get a UFC contract. That’s because he’s a grinding wrestler, not a highlight reel fighter. But he’s undefeated at 11-0 with 36 takedowns across his last four fights. Malkoun has 20% takedown defense. Finney should smother him and win a decision.

• Pick: Torrez Finney (+130)

Billy Elekana vs Junior Tafa:

Tafa is 2-4 in the UFC and has been inconsistent. Elekana is 2-1 and looked solid in his last outing. This is a heavyweight fight between two guys who can crack, but Elekana is the more polished striker. I expect him to get the stoppage.

• Pick: Billy Elekana by KO

Cam Rowston vs Cody Brundage:

Rowston is the hometown fighter and looked impressive in his UFC debut. Brundage is 5-6-1 in the UFC and has been finished multiple times. Rowston should get the stoppage in front of the Sydney crowd.

• Pick: Cam Rowston by TKO

UFC 325 Early Value

The main event is closer than it should be. Volk dominated the first fight, but the line is almost identical. If you like the champ, there’s value at -148. If you’re worried about the chin, Lopes inside the distance is the play.

Ruffy at -122 is the sharp money play after moving from as high as +140. Torrez Finney at +130 offers plus money on an undefeated wrestler against a guy who can’t stop takedowns. Those are your best early UFC 325 bets.