Diego Lopes sets next target for UFC featherweight belt and sets date for return

Diego lopes after victory in UFC 306 (Photo: Instagram/UFC)

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Just over a week after mastering Brian ortega and secure a place in the top 3 of the featherweight division, Diego lopes has already defined the possibilities for his next step within the division, with the objective of fighting for the belt as soon as possible.

In an interview with 'MMA Fighting', the Brazilian based in Mexico reiterated his interest in placing himself as a reserve fighter for the next title fight in the category, between Ilia Topuria e Max Holloway No. UFC 308, on October 26, in Abu Dhabi. If this is not possible, Diego has as a 'plan B' a duel against the former champion Alexander Volkanovsky, preferably in December of this year.

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“If that doesn’t happen (being a reserve in the UFC 308), I would like the possibility of facing Alexander Volkanovsky in December. He doesn't like to wait and neither do I, so it could be a good fight. A lot can happen, but I think the two most viable options right now are to be a reserve in Abu Dhabi or to face Volkanovski in December. The UFC is aware that I'm available for the UFC 308, so it depends on what they want to do,” said the Brazilian.

In just over a year in the UFC, Diego lopes has five wins and just one defeat, suffered precisely in his debut, when he accepted to face the undefeated Movsar Evloev days in advance. Recently, the Russian, who was left without an opponent for the UFC 307 after injury of aljamain sterling, challenged the Brazilian to a rematch, which was promptly refused.

“The only possibility of this fight happening is if the UFC says that if I fight him, I’m next for the belt. That’s the only way this fight can happen right now and I want a full camp. It’s very easy for him to challenge me knowing that I fought two weeks ago. I challenged him several times with a full camp and he never wanted to. The possibility of me accepting this fight now or facing him at the last minute is zero,” he concluded.