Diego Lopes isn’t wasting any time resuming his UFC featherweight title pursuit.
UFC 308 continued to highlight the 145-pound weight class this past Saturday in Abu Dhabi. The division’s title closed the show, with the champion Ilia Topuria delivering one of the most epic performances in recent memory against the unbreakable legend Max Holloway. Earlier in the night, contenders Lerone Murphy and Dan Ige battled it out and Murphy extended his 16-fight unbeaten streak. All the while, Lopes and former UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski watched cageside to soak up the action.
Volkanovski revealed his Abu Dhabi plans on Monday’s edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show” and entered the Octagon post-fight to congratulate Topuria. Despite Volkanovski insisting he’ll be next to challenge the champion, Lopes was in attendance all of fight week as the main event’s backup fighter.
The Brazilian-Mexican contender prepared his game plans in case of either opponent. A short-notice entry for Lopes would’ve been his fourth fight of 2024, starting in April. He carries a five-fight UFC streak overall and credits his nutritionist for being able to undertake these rapid weight cuts without struggle.
As for Topuria’s first successful title defense, Lopes was as impressed as the rest of the MMA world and never actually believed Holloway could be knocked out.
“It was a big knockout. It was really impressive, but it was even more shocking just to see Max on the floor,” Lopes said through a translator on Tuesday’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “It had never happened. I was really shocked by that.
“Max did a good job keeping the distance in the beginning of the fight. I thought the fight would go a lot longer but I told my brother, if Ilia somehow got the opportunity to close the distance he could definitely knock him out.
“Max was the favorite for me [going in] just because he’s fought everybody in different weight classes,” he concluded. “Ilia really showed up that day.”
Featherweight is on fire right now because of fighters like Topuria and Lopes. A clash between the two feels inevitable with their current momentums and Lopes has blasted his way into the title conversation quicker than expected.
Typically, the backup role for a title fight is a strong indicator that you’re right where you want to be as the next in line to challenge for gold — unless you’re lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot, who was done dirty in October 2023 when he was coincidentally skipped over in favor Volkanovski.
Lopes, 29, says the UFC didn’t have title shot guarantees as an incentive along with the role. Surely, that’s due to Volkanovski’s inclusion in the picture. Lopes noted that the two featherweight elites circled each other heavily during UFC 308 fight week but remained cordial. Lopes and Volkanovski are both under the notion that Volkanovski is next for Topuria. But if there’s too long of a delay from the champion, they could always fight each other in the interim.
“We were never promised a title shot going into this,” Lopes said. “We just agreed to be the backup but we will for sure try to find our way to that title shot.
“Ilia mentioned on Saturday night that he wanted to take some time off. Also, UFC mentioned they’re working on a date for Spain. While this is all going on, it would make the most sense for me to just fight ‘Volk’ in Sydney (in February) for the interim title. ‘Volk’ has always suggested this. I’ve already agreed to it. Let’s just do it.”
Volkanovski noted on Monday that the February turnaround might be too soon for Topuria to make UFC 312 in his home of Australia. The legend and future Hall of Famer is willing to wait, he just isn’t sure for how long, which could open the door for Lopes.
Any matchup outside of Volkanovski or Holloway would be fighting downward in the official UFC rankings for Lopes, who currently occupies the No. 3 spot. He’ll even go to enemy territory in Sydney to face Volkanovski if he has to.
“It all just makes sense,” Lopes said of a Volkanovski fight. “Ilia wants to take some time off. Ilia wants a fight in Spain for his title defense. ‘Volk’ doesn’t want to wait. ‘Volk’ wants to fight. I want to fight. I don’t mind flying to Sydney to fight him.
“‘Volk’ is a legend. He’s done it for a long time, but it’s time to see freshness in the division and give it a little refresh. I trust my work, I trust my people, and I’m confident.”
Lopes is adamant about the Volkanovski matchup but admits he may have to weigh some options with a potential UFC return to Mexico rumored for February. Should Lopes fight on such a card, it would be his first UFC fight in his home country. Lopes rose to prominence on the Mexican regional scene as the LUX Fight League champion to initially get a shot on UFC’s Contender Series in 2021. It’s all been uphill ever since.
As active as he’s been, Lopes has proudly acted as a company man, delivering in all his showcases. So he’s earned a break, and with the gold in sight, he’s willing to wait for it — even if that means missing out on a Mexico homecoming.
“Obviously, we feel that the fight with Volkanovski makes the most sense for us,” Lopes said. “It gets us on the title shot track, but if UFC wants to give us another offer in Mexico City, we have to talk as a team with the management and see what the options are here.
“I’m not really interested in fighting anybody but Volkanovksi. It makes the most sense. If the UFC says we have to wait around for a title shot, then we’ll wait. If we fight for the interim (title) or Volkanovski, that’s a conversation we’ll have to have with management.”
Ultimately, everyone is chasing Topuria at 145 pounds, and they’ll have their work cut out for them in the process. At the top of the list, the always-game Lopes isn’t afraid of the impending challenge.
“We know watching Ilia’s fights that he’s very forward (moving) and likes to create pressure,” Lopes said. “I also like to create pressure and we both have very heavy hands. It would be a really good fight and any one of us could drop at any moment because of that.”
