UFC 325 Prelim Fight Card Picks & Predictions for Volkanovski vs. Lopes 2

The UFC returns to Australia this Saturday (January 31) for UFC 325, and MMA KO’s Drew Beaupré is here to provide predictions for all eight of the card’s prelim fights.

The main event for UFC 325 is a rematch for the UFC featherweight title, with Diego Lopes set for a second crack at two-time Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski following a stoppage-win over Jean Silva in the main event of last year’s Noche UFC.

The co-main event is about as fan-friendly a fight as the UFC can put together, as lightweights Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint-Denis are set to throw down in a matchup that has all the makings of a “Fight of the Night” favorite for UFC 325.

UFC 325 Preliminary Card Predictions

Junior Tafa vs. Billy Elekana

Bogdan Guskov (red gloves) fights Billy Elekana (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

It’s never a guarantee with the UFC’s heavier weight classes, but Tafa has to be thinking that another loss here could spell the end of his time with the promotion. It certainly feels like the UFC is trying to set Elekana up for another win, and I think he'll be able to avoid eating any big shots before he’s able to bring things to the mat.

(Pick: Elekana)

Cam Rowston vs. Cody Brundage

Brundage is also in need of a win here after a tough run of results that includes two draws, but I expect that Rowston will feed off the energy of the Australian crowd and extend his current win streak with another finish.

(Pick: Rowston)

Jacob Malkoun vs. Torrez Finney

Jacob Malkoun (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Andre Petroski (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at Boardwalk Hall. | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

I don’t think any MMA fan familiar with either of these fighters has especially high hopes for this matchup. I’m hesitant to pick him given that he’s coming off a nearly two-year layoff, but I’ll slightly lean with Malkoun to get the job done and hand Finney the first loss of his career.

(Pick: Malkoun)

Jonathan Micallef vs. Oban Elliott

Bassil Hafez (red gloves) fights Oban Elliott (blue gloves) in the welterweight bout during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

This is one of the more underrated matchups scheduled for UFC 325, and I think Elliott will come into the night motivated to eliminate the memory of an upset-loss to Seok Jyeon Ko that ended the Welshman’s eight-fight win streak.

(Pick: Elliott)

Kaan Ofli vs. Yizha

Ofli picked up his first UFC win in October after an 0-2 start to his Octagon career, but unfortunately the former The Ultimate Fighter finalist has been handed a tough matchup here against Yizha.

(Pick: Yizha)

Dom Mar Fan vs. Sang Uk Kim

His nickname admittedly might be swaying me a bit, but I’m picking “Street Buddha” to get his hand raised in what should hopefully be an entertaining conclusion to the Road to UFC lightweight tournament.

(Pick: Mar Fan)

Sebastian Szalay vs. Keiichiro Nakamura

I’ll be curious to see if Nakamura’s reach advantage presents any major issues for Szalay, but I’m still going with Australia’s “Seb” to win the Road to UFC featherweight finals in his home country.

(Pick: Szalay)

Sulangrangbo vs. Lawrence Lui

In this newly-minted curtain jerker for UFC 325 after the fourth Road to UFC final between Aaron Tau and Namsrai Batbayar was scrapped on weigh-in day, I’ll take Sulangrangbo to get things done in what should be an entertaining scrap to kick off the card.

(Pick: Sulangrangbo)

MMA KO has been providing comprehensive coverage for UFC 325 all throughout fight week, and be sure to check back on our homepage for main card predictions as well as live results and highlights on fight night.

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