Diego Lopes considers move to lightweight after UFC featherweight stalemate

Diego
Lopes is pondering a change of scenery.

The two-time
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title challenger
is debating leaving the weight class, claiming that he wants to
compete at lightweight in his next fight. Lopes last fought at

UFC Freedom 250, where he finished Steve
Garcia.

Diego Lopes lightweight move and UFC featherweight title
picture

While Lopes is still among the top featherweights, two losses to
current champion Alexander
Volkanovski puts him far from title contention, and his next
move potentially opens up new possibilities.

“It’s a little difficult.,”
Lopes told MMA Fighting. “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. I’m
definitely in a bit of a tough spot.”

He then revealed his desire to move up.

“I have this desire to move up to 155 and take on an exciting
fight… 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.”

Notably, Lopes weighed in as the backup for Ilia
Topuria vs. Justin
Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. He claims that if the promotion
allows him to bounce back and forth between weight classes he’ll do
so, but lightweight is his clear preference if he has to choose
one.

“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.”