Hooker vs. Saint Denis, Fiziev vs. Ruffy added to UFC 325

MMA enthusiasts rejoice, as two fan-favourite lightweight matchups have been added to UFC 325.

The pay-per-view card, set for the promotion’s eighth visit to Sydney, Australia, will now feature two 155-pound ranked-contender bouts, the UFC announced on Saturday.

Dan Hooker (No. 6) will take on Benoit Saint Denis (No. 8) in the co-main event of the UFC’s second primetime event of the new year on Jan. 31, while Rafael Fiziev will matchup with Mauricio Ruffy.

Headlining the fight will be Alexander Volkanovski, who will defend his featherweight title on home soil against Diego Lopes in a title rematch.

Volkanovski won’t be the only fighter competing in a friendly environment, as Hooker, a New Zealand native, will also be hoping for a boost when he steps into the octagon. “The Hangman” could use it, after his most recent fight — a submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan — snapped a three-bout win streak.

Standing in his way will be one of the surging fighters of the 155-pound ranks in Saint Denis, who has won three consecutive fights, all by stoppage. His most recent victory came in less than 30 seconds of the opening round, when he knocked out Beneil Dariush with a vicious left hook.

Neither fighter prefers letting the judges decide their fights, so fans should expect plenty of fists to fly.

Meanwhile, further down the pecking order on the lightweight leaderboard, Fiziev and Ruffy are both looking to capture momentum of their own.

Fiziev’s last fight ended with a much-needed unanimous decision in his favour, snapping a three-fight skid that stymied the goodwill of a six-bout win streak that preceded it.

As for Ruffy, he’s coming off the first loss of his budding UFC career. A submission loss to Saint Denis in September that put an end to his flawless 3-0 start with the promotion.

Nearly half of Fiziev’s 11 UFC bouts have ended via KO/TKO, and Ruffy comes in with three of his four fights not having gone the distance.

All the lightweight action could help clear up a somewhat uncertain picture atop the division since champion Ilia Topuria took a leave of absence.

While Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett prepare to match up for the interim 155-pound title at UFC 324, just one week before action gets underway in Sydney, the quarter of lightweight contenders at UFC 325 will surely look to make their case for the next title shot.