‘Broke both feet’: UFC star’s shock hospital reveal as Volkanovski whacks ‘butthurt’ rival

Alexander Volkanovski’s rival has revealed he likely broke both feet in their UFC 325 headliner —with Australia’s UFC featherweight king also questioning why another division contender has been left so “butthurt” by his victory.

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While he may have entered Sunday’s hyped UFC Sydney coronation under something of a retirement cloud, 37-year-old ‘Volk’ is now eyeing off a range of blockbuster options after delivering a second consecutive clinic against Brazilian Diego Lopes.

Only 10 months after completely outclassing Lopes at UFC 314, Australia’s fighting favourite looked even more dominant in the rematch, eventually earning all three judges’ scorecards 49-46, 49-46 and 50-45.

Volkanovski’s only real scare came in the third round, when he suffered a flash knockdown after being caught by a Lopes right hand.

However, the champ told Fox Sports Australia afterwards that he hadn’t been troubled by the rare blemish, while also confirming he now planned to buy a bobcat for the family farm with his US$100,000 Fight of the Night bonus.

Given the ease of Volkanovski’s victory, talk immediately turned afterwards to what will be next for the UFC champion’s second reign.

And immediately, the future Hall of Famer outed the division’s top two challengers — Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy.

However, Brazilian Jean Silva has also injected himself into the debate, taking to social media on Sunday night to call out Volk.

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Better, Silva also warned that, in preparation for the showdown, he would even be heading to Spain to train alongside the superstar who famously finished Volkanovski in 2024 — UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria.

In response, however, Volk branded the Brazilian “butthurt”, and questioned if he may have been upset by Fighting Nerds team-mate, Mauricio Ruffy, having travelled Down Under to train with Team Volkanosvki.

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DIEGO LOPES INJURIES REVEALED

Diego Lopes limped gingerly from the cage after losing to Volkanovski on Sunday night, and now it appears we know why.

Late on Sunday night, the Brazilian challenger shared a photograph to his Instagram page from a Sydney hospital bed, where he revealed he had likely broken both feet during his 25 minute showdown.

Following the fight, Lopes was transported to a local hospital for treatment where his team revealed “looks like we broke both feet” as a result of his five-round battle. It has not yet been revealed how, or when, the fight injuries occurred.

After the Sydney event was complete, UFC officials confirmed Lopes was one of three fighters taken to hospital for precautionary scans, along with New Zealand’s Dan Hooker and ‘Welsh Gangster’, Oban Elliott.

Taking to Instagram soon after, Lopes’s manager Jason House initially shared the photograph of his client sitting on the side of a hospital bed, writing: “Looks like we broke both feet.”

Soon after, Lopes reposted the photo, seemingly endorsing the diagnosis.

Below the picture, House also wrote: “Some nights you’re at the afterparty, some nights you’re at the ER. But every morning I give thanks for the opportunity to live this life with my best friends”.

WHAT CHANCE VOLK FACES BRAZILIAN JEAN SILVA NEXT?

While Volkanovski has left nobody doubting who he wants next at featherweight, one man looking to jump the queue is Brazilian Jean Silva – who, wonderfully, is also going all out to get the Australian’s attention.

Following Volkanovski’s win on Sunday, Silva not only issued a challenge to the champ via social media, but said he would do whatever necessary to get it done – including travelling to Spain so he can train with UFC lightweight champ Ilia Topuria, who famously kayoed Volkanovski in 2024.

“I know that Volkanovski is asking for [Movsar] Evloev,“ Silva wrote on Twitter. ”I don’t know what. He’s asking the guys not to get hurt.

“Bro, sorry to inform you if you want to stay good and without getting hurt, I understand you.

“But if you want to fight a guy who hits hard, I’m your guy and I will tell you more. I’m going there to camp with Topuria to break you. I’ll let you know. I’ll warn you, I go there.”

Ironically, Silva was tracking to become Volkanovski’s next title opponent late last year, however was himself knocked out by Lopes in September. He has since responded with a strong decision win over Arnold Allen and now wants a crack at gold.

Asked about Silva’s rant at Sunday’s post fight press conference, Volkanovski suggested it was likely motivated by UFC lightweight Mauricio Ruffy – who trained with the Brazilian at Fighting Nerds — making a change in camps to work with Team Volkanovski in Wollongong.

The surprise alliance came after Ruffy signed with Volkanovski’s manager, Ash Belcastro, and was also sponsored by sportswear company Engage, which the Aussie fighter and agent co-own with Israel Adesanya.

Asked initially about Silva’s training with Topuria comment, Volkanovski replied: “He said that? OK.

“I don’t know. I think he’s a bit upset about the Ruffy thing.

“I mean I don’t think it was anything more than you’ve got Ruffy, who’s a part of Engage Industries at the moment [and] AP Management, we connected sort of through that.

“Did a bit of training there and he’s obviously a very good guy. An incredible guy. One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and obviously just wanted to work with me.

“So I was always going to work with him. I know [Rafael Fiziev], that was tough because I know Rafa as well but I was always going to work with Ruffy. I think Jean Silva took that to heart.”

Soon after, the champ continued of Silva: “Supposedly, I don’t know if it’s real that he doesn’t follow Ruffy anymore. I don’t know. It shouldn’t be like that. It’s nothing like that. I don’t know why he’s getting so butt hurt about that.”

WHO VOLK WANTS NEXT

Speaking immediately after Sunday’s win, Volkanovski said that while he’s been linked to a range of wild options – including a BMF showdown, White House fight, even a call out from UFC lightweight Arman Tsarukyan – his only focus is on the division’s two most deserving men.

That is, Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy.

Already, there has been talk of the two undefeated UFC featherweights throwing down in the UK this March, in what would be a UFC title eliminator.

While UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan also called Volk out in fight week, claiming he was readying to drop down for a shock title shot, the Aussie suggested he was likely “throwing that out there for a laugh”.

Asked who he wants next after defeating Lopes on Sunday, Volk said: “I mean, if it’s the featherweight division, it’s got to be the top guys.

“You know what I’m like. I want to fight the top guys who deserve it.

“You’ve got Movsar and Lerone Murphy. I’ve been told they’re going to face each other. I don’t know if that’s just rumors. That’ll be great. I’ll be watching that. If the next one is definitely featherweight, it’s got to be one of those two.”

And why?

“I’m an easy champ to understand,” he said. “If you deserve it, you’re next. I’ve got a responsibility.

“I talk about having a responsibility as a champion [and] I don’t think enough champions look at it that way. For me, I look at it as a responsibility. There are rankings for a reason …”