Diego Lopes is challenged by former champion after victory over Jean Silva at Noche UFC

Diego lopes celebrates victory in Night UFC. Photo: Reproduction/UFC.

Diego lopes shone last Saturday (13) by knocking out Jean Silva in the co-main event of Night UFC and maintain his position in the featherweight elite (up to 65,7 kg). This position attracts the interest of those who aspire to fight for the belt in the category, as is the case of the former bantamweight champion (up to 61,2 kg) aljamain sterling.

After the victory of Diego lopes, the former champion took to social media and made a direct challenge to the Brazilian, offering a chance to fight for the category title.

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“The winner gets the title shot. SCORE IT!” Sterling captioned a photo alongside Diego lopes on Instagram.

Bantamweight champion with three defenses between 2021 and 2023, when he was dethroned by Sean O'Malley, aljamain sterling moved up to featherweight in 2024. In his current category, the American has two wins and one loss, coming off a triumph over the former title challenger Brian ortega, at UFC Macau, in August and occupies the fifth position in the division ranking.

"They said I had no striking ability, but I shut them up. They said this guy and that guy were going to erase me, but I shut them up. I've always been the underdog, and I keep delivering. I didn't go 12-0 and break the bantamweight title record for wins and defenses because they handed it to me," he said.

The featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg) has the current champion Alexander Volkanovsky, who regained the title precisely by beating Diego lopes in dispute for the belt left vacant by Ilia Topuria, in April of this year. The Australian has not yet confirmed the first defense of his new reign, but the tendency is that he will face the British Lerone murphy, current number 4 in the ranking.