Diego Lopes gets UFC green light to move up to lightweight

The UFC has approved Diego Lopes' move from featherweight to the lightweight division. Lopes has stated he wanted to make the jump to 155 pounds before his last fight but was directed to stay at 145, and now that the promotion has no objections he is making the switch. He has called for a fight against any opponent ranked in the top five or six at lightweight. Lopes also served as the official backup for the main event at UFC at the White House, making weight twice and receiving compensation from the promotion for doing so.