Michael Chiesa commented on the featherweight title picture, suggesting that Diego Lopes might receive a title shot instead of Movsar Evloev due to Evloev's history of fight cancellations. Chiesa noted that Evloev has been scheduled for over 20 fights but has only competed in approximately 10, with cancellations due to staph infections, injuries, and issues related to overtraining. While Chiesa believes Evloev deserves the title shot, he would not be surprised if the UFC gives it to Silva instead. The comment highlights ongoing concerns about Evloev's ability to make it to fight night consistently.
Michael Chiesa has weighed in on the featherweight title picture, suggesting that Diego Lopes could leapfrog Movsar Evloev in the championship queue if the Russian contender continues to struggle with fight cancellations.
Chiesa, known as "Maverick," carries a 20-7 record and has established himself as a recognizable voice in MMA analysis. The 38-year-old American, who trains out of Sikjitsu, built his career as a southpaw grappler with a takedown rate of 3.11 per 15 minutes and a submission attempt rate of one per 15 minutes.
Evloev enters the conversation as the No. 1-ranked featherweight at 20-0, an unblemished record that makes him the logical next challenger on paper. The 32-year-old Russian, who trains at American Top Team, stands five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach and has posted an impressive 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 47 percent striking accuracy. Despite that résumé, Chiesa pointed out that Evloev has been scheduled for more than 20 fights while competing in only roughly 10 of them, with staph infections, injuries, and overtraining issues cited as recurring causes of withdrawal.
Lopes, ranked seventh in the featherweight division, holds a 28-8 record and trains out of Lobo Gym MMA in Brazil. The 31-year-old stands five-foot-eleven and lands 3.83 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a well-rounded profile that makes him a compelling alternative if a title opportunity opens up.
Why it matters
- Evloev's No. 1 ranking makes him the presumptive title challenger, but his availability history creates uncertainty at the top of the division.
- Lopes sits at No. 7 but could benefit from Evloev's inability to stay on a card, potentially vaulting past several contenders.
- Chiesa's remarks reflect broader frustration with how frequently Evloev's bookings have collapsed, a pattern that could influence UFC matchmaking decisions regardless of rankings merit.
