Australian Alexander Volkanovski has regained the UFC featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Brazilian Diego Lopes in Miami.
After five brutal rounds, Volkanovski weathered a knockdown and temporary blindness in his right eye after a brutal uppercut late in the second to become the undisputed division champion to the tune of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46.
It was a triumph for the 36-year-old after losing back-to-back fights by knockout, first by lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev before ceding his featherweight crown to Ilia Topuria.
"It's good to be back," Volkanovski said.
"I've never felt the love so much. I was saying all week, even before I walked out, I promised my girls back to them.
"But then I realised it didn't matter if I brought the belt back. A lot of people counted me out — coming off two knockout losses, the big break, then then beating a gun like Diego Lopes.
"For everyone watching, adversity is a privilege. It really is. I love you all.
"It's an opportunity. You have adversity, if you build yourself back — even if it doesn't work out — it'll only make yourself stronger.
"Look what can happen. This is shit people will write books about."
Volkanovski made history as the first fighter aged over 35 to win a UFC title fight at 155 pounds and lighter after other bidders were 0-17 in the competition.
He showed vintage form in the opening round before weathering the storm in the second and surging again over the final two to reclaim the title he previously won in 2019.
Lopes showed great toughness to withstand Volkanovski's early barrage and found some joy whenever he could turn the fight into a brawl but the Australian's composure and experience proved to be too much.
"It was an honour to share the Octagon with someone like Alexander Volkanovski. This is a man who is so experienced in the UFC," said Lopes.
"I might have come up short, but I can see myself coming back. I will train better, get better and I will be a champion."
With Topuria moving up to lightweight, Volkanovski's first defence of his second reign could come against undefeated Russian Mosvar Eloev or Mexico's Yair Rodriguez.
Rodriguez impressed earlier in the night with a unanimous decision victory over Patricio Pitbull, after which he called for a rematch with Volkanovski on Mexican soil.
AAP/ABC
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