UFC 325: Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint Denis among top undercard fights to watch

UFC's return to Australia could overdeliver on knockouts just a week after the promotion's debut on Paramount+ did the same

By Shakiel Mahjouri

Jan 28, 2026 at 2:13 pm ET • 3 min read

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There's a premium on excitement in the UFC Paramount era. A quick scan through UFC 325's main card and it's difficult to find a boring fight when the promotion returns to Sydney.

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, arguably the best featherweight ever, defends his title against Diego Lopes, a formidable dual offensive threat. Volkanovski's pedigree alone is worth tuning in for, but the supporting players offer a different flavor. Every main card fight leading into main event will probably end in a knockout. The production team will have their work cut out for them trying to piece together all the highlights.

Sign up for Paramount+ and watch UFC 325 live on Saturday night for no additional fee -- every UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night is included with the price of your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year!

Ahead of UFC 325, take a look at three can't-miss fights. Plan your bathroom breaks carefully for this one.

UFC 325 fight card: Five biggest storylines to follow when Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes rematch

Brian Campbell

Dan Hooker vs. Benoit Saint Denis

Lightweight fighters don't cut corners. The deepest division in the sport has long been one of its most exciting. Coming off of Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett last week, UFC fans are treated to another all-action collision between a rising star and a veteran. Hooker is one of the toughest predators in a shark-infested lightweight division. In 2023, he gritted through a fractured arm and orbital bone to beat Jalin Turner. His 2020 clash with Dustin Poirier is fondly remembered as arguably the best fight that year. Hooker has been an elite lightweight for a long time, but has often been a half-step behind his contemporaries. A win on Saturday almost guarantees him one more high-profile fight in a career full of them.

Saint Denis is cut from a different cloth. The French special forces soldier has knocked out or tapped out every opponent he has beaten. He fell short of high expectations against Poirier and Renato Moicano, but rejuvenated himself after switching teams. Saint Denis now trains with top middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov. It's done wonders for his career, empowering him to a three-fight win streak. Beating Hooker is a big deal, but what comes after is truly exciting. Saint Denis is knocking on the door of the lightweight elite. With a growing reputation as the division's most potent offensive force, there are only big fights on his horizon.

Rafael Fiziev vs. Mauricio Ruffy

UFC fans are being treated to a swathe of exciting lightweight fights to start the Paramount+ era: Gaethje vs. Pimblett, Hooker vs. Sanit Denis and Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira. The lightweight showcase continues here. Fiziev is the better pure Muay Thai lightweight striker, but two losses to Gaethje stopped him from advancing in the division. He looks to rebuild against a fellow finisher. Ruffy is a true KO artist, knocking out 11 of his 12 victims. The Brazilian striker came to prominence with The Fighting Nerds but started training with UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski after his loss to Saint Denis. Ruffy's fellow Fighting Nerds, Carlos Prates and Jean Silva, got back on track after a tough start to 2025. Ruffy plans to do the same. It's not often that two fighters with spinning wheel KOs on their resume fight each other. That tells you everything you need to know about Fiziev vs. Ruffy.

Quillan Salkilld vs. Jamie Mullarkey

This entry is more about a fighter than the fight. Salkilld spun heads, figuratively and literally, with a nasty head kick KO against longtime UFC veteran Nasrat Haqparast. Salkilld's stoppage was awarded CBS Sports' 2025 KO of the Year. The ferocious kick left Haqparast unconscious for several minutes. It was a scary sight for everyone, even Salkilld looked concerned. Fortunately, Haqparast came to. The memorable finish raised Salkilld's profile, and he has the potential to be a reliable Oceanic star. Mullarkey, a seven-year UFC veteran struggling with consistency, steps up on short notice against the rising prospect. It's a battle of West vs. East Australia in Sydney.