Ali Akbar Rosady
Brazilian featherweight contender Diego Lopes, a two-time challenger for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight title, has indicated a strong desire to transition to the lightweight division for his next competitive outing. This potential move comes as Lopes navigates a complex title picture in the 145-pound category, largely dominated by reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski. Lopes, 29, recently solidified his standing with a decisive victory at the UFC White House event, a performance that also saw him volunteer for a crucial backup role in the lightweight title unification bout.
Lopes’ most recent appearance in the octagon was earlier this month at the UFC on ESPN 58: Gaethje vs. Topuria event in Washington D.C., an evening that underscored both his readiness to compete and his strategic ambitions. Lopes first weighed in at 146 pounds, successfully making the featherweight limit for his scheduled clash against Steve Garcia. Demonstrating remarkable physical conditioning and professional commitment, Lopes then returned to the scales merely minutes later, this time making the 155-pound lightweight limit to serve as the official backup for the main event title unification fight between then-interim champion Justin Gaethje and former undisputed champion Ilia Topuria. Lopes secured a first-round knockout victory over Garcia, showcasing his potent striking ability and adding another significant win to his professional record, which currently stands at 24 wins and 6 losses. His services were ultimately not required for the main event, as Gaethje stopped Topuria to unify the lightweight belts in a dramatic contest.
The strategic pivot towards the lightweight division is rooted in the current landscape of the featherweight category. Alexander Volkanovski, widely regarded as one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history, continues his dominant reign as champion. Volkanovski has successfully defended his title multiple times, including two high-profile victories over Lopes himself. These prior encounters, while competitive and showcasing Lopes’ skill, place him in a challenging position regarding future title aspirations at 145 pounds.
"It’s a little difficult," Lopes stated in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, addressing the path to another featherweight title shot. "As long as Volkanovski doesn’t retire, it’s going to be hard to get another title shot. I’d have to be rooting for him to lose, but I’d rather see him retire as champion, because he was such a great champion for the division. Seeing him walk away with the belt would be something really special. Then he’d leave the door open for the guys coming up, and I see myself as part of that group too."
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Lopes’ sentiment reflects a broader challenge faced by fighters who have lost multiple times to a dominant champion in their division. While his UFC resume includes impressive victories over notable contenders such as Jean Silva, Brian Ortega, and Dan Ige, securing a third opportunity against a champion of Volkanovski’s caliber often requires an extraordinary string of wins or a significant amount of time for the division to evolve. Volkanovski, who holds a professional record of 26 wins and 4 losses, has been the undisputed featherweight champion since December 2019, successfully defending his title against a murderers’ row of contenders, including Max Holloway (three times), Brian Ortega, Chan Sung Jung, and Yair Rodriguez. His long and successful tenure leaves limited fresh matchups for fighters who have already fallen to him.
"But I’m definitely in a bit of a tough spot," Lopes reiterated. "I have this desire to move up to 155 and take on an exciting fight. I think there are some great matchups for me in the top five or top six, fights that fit my style really well. So I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen in my division. I had a conversation with the UFC this past weekend and we actually talked more about the lightweight division than the featherweight division. I think the possibilities for a fight at 155 are opening up even more. We’ll see what happens and what the UFC’s plans are as well."
The conversation with UFC officials, specifically mentioned to have involved lightweight discussions more prominently than featherweight, signals a potential shift in the promotion’s plans for Lopes. The lightweight division, historically one of the UFC’s deepest and most competitive weight classes, offers a plethora of new matchups and pathways to contention. With Justin Gaethje now unifying the belts, a new era has begun, featuring elite talents such as Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, and Arman Tsarukyan. Lopes’ aggressive grappling style, combined with his proven knockout power, could present unique challenges for many fighters in the 155-pound category.
The idea for Lopes to serve as a backup for the lightweight title fight originated when he learned that Arman Tsarukyan, who was initially designated as the official backup, would not be present in Washington D.C. Recognizing a unique opportunity, Lopes promptly communicated his willingness to step in. "When we realized Arman wasn’t going to make it, because he was the official backup for the fight, I told my manager to text Hunter [Campbell] and see what he said," Lopes explained, referring to UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell. "The worst he could say was no, so it wasn’t going to hurt us in any way. I just wanted to show that I’d be there if anything happened. Hunter actually surprised me. He said, ‘Wait, are you serious?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m serious.’ Then he said, ‘Alright then. If you want, I’ll give you the green light to weigh in as the official backup for the fight.’ And they officially announced me as the backup."
For his efforts as a backup fighter, Lopes received an undisclosed financial compensation, a common practice for fighters who commit to such roles. The dual weigh-in, particularly making weight for a division above his primary one, served as a tangible demonstration of his commitment and physical capability for a potential lightweight career. Lopes weighed approximately 166 pounds by the time he entered the octagon to compete against Steve Garcia on June 14, indicating a comfortable rehydration to a weight that aligns well with the 155-pound division. His ability to cut to 145 pounds and then quickly return to a fight-ready weight for 155 pounds within hours showcases his discipline and the potential for a smoother weight cut at lightweight compared to the arduous process often required for featherweight.
Despite the readiness, Lopes maintained a realistic perspective on the likelihood of being called into action for the main event. "Just the fact that they accepted me as the official backup makes you think, ‘Alright, the chances are tiny, but it could happen.’ You never know," Lopes commented. "Maybe one of the guys gets food poisoning or something and can’t fight [laughs]. There’s always a chance. But honestly, I was pretty relaxed. I just wanted to go there, do my job, win my fight, and that’s it."
Lopes revealed that the idea of moving to lightweight was not a spontaneous decision but had been a consideration even after his most recent defeat to Volkanovski in January. However, the UFC opted to book him against Steve Garcia at featherweight for his subsequent fight. Now, with the featherweight title picture remaining unchanged and his recent lightweight backup experience, Lopes’ preference for 155 pounds has solidified.
When asked about potential featherweight matchups that would make sense for his next fight, Lopes acknowledged the scarcity of appealing options within his current division. "Given where I am right now, it’s very difficult," Lopes stated. "One name that might make sense is Yair Rodriguez because of the history between us, but we haven’t heard anything about him in over a year and a half. Since I fought in Miami, I’ve already fought three times, and nobody knows what’s happened with him." Yair Rodriguez, a former interim featherweight champion, has been inactive since his July 2023 loss to Volkanovski. His last reported activity was a withdrawal from a scheduled fight against Brian Ortega in February 2024 due to injury, leaving his return timeline uncertain.
Lopes expressed an openness to competing in both divisions if the UFC were to allow it, a strategy some fighters have successfully employed. However, if forced to choose a singular weight class, his current assessment strongly favors the lightweight division. "If the UFC gives me the opportunity to keep fighting in both divisions, I’d love that. But if they told me, ‘You have to pick one weight class,’ then, considering where things stand right now, and with Volkanovski still being the champion, I think I’d choose 155."
This strategic shift by Diego Lopes represents a significant juncture in his career. A move to lightweight would not only open up a fresh pool of opponents and a new path to a championship but also potentially alleviate the strain of a demanding weight cut to featherweight. The coming weeks are expected to clarify the UFC’s plans for Lopes, but his intent to compete among the lightweight elite is now unequivocally clear.
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