Diego Lopes says his post-UFC Freedom 250 conversations with the promotion centered almost entirely on lightweight matchups rather than a return to featherweight, signaling he is ready to make a permanent move to 155 pounds.
Lopes spoke to MMA Fighting.
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.
The key factor is Alexander Volkanovski, who has beaten Lopes twice in featherweight title fights and remains champion.
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.
Lopes said if forced to commit to one division going forward, the choice is straightforward.
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.
Lopes volunteered as the backup fighter for the Topuria vs. Gaethje lightweight title fight at UFC Freedom 250 after noticing Arman Tsarukyan would not be in Washington D.C., having his manager contact UFC executive Hunter Campbell directly. He knocked out Steve Garcia on the same card. He pointed to fights in the lightweight top five as natural targets given his style.