Diego Lopes has expressed interest in shifting to a new weight class and says the UFC is receptive to the idea. No specific division or timeline has been confirmed.
Diego Lopes has made clear he is open to competing at a different weight class, and the featherweight contender says the UFC is receptive to the possibility. No target division or timetable has been announced.
Lopes, 31, carries a 28-8-0 record and currently sits seventh in the featherweight rankings. The Brazilian, who trains out of Lobo Gym MMA, stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach — a notably large frame for 145 pounds. His offensive output backs up his contender status: he lands 3.83 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, and his ground game adds a consistent threat with 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside 0.88 takedowns in the same span.
Why it matters
- At 180 cm and with his physical profile, Lopes has the frame to move up, most naturally to lightweight at 155 pounds.
- A division change would shake up two rankings simultaneously, depending on where he lands.
- His combination of striking volume and submission hunting could make him an immediate factor at a new weight.
