Diego Lopes has acknowledged he finds himself in a difficult position at featherweight and is targeting a move up in competition. The featherweight contender has stated he wants his next fight to come against a top-ranked UFC lightweight.
Diego Lopes is calling for a step up in weight class, publicly acknowledging that the featherweight division has become a tough environment for him and expressing his desire to compete against a top-ranked UFC lightweight next.
Lopes, 31, carries a professional record of 28-8 and currently sits ranked seventh in the featherweight division. The Brazilian, who trains out of Lobo Gym MMA, stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach — a frame that could translate well to the 155-pound class. An orthodox striker, he lands 3.83 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, and supplements his stand-up game with an active submission threat, averaging 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His takedown output sits at 0.88 per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat across all areas of the cage.
Why it matters
- Lopes moving to lightweight could shake up both divisions, removing a ranked featherweight contender from the 145-pound picture
- A win over a top-ranked lightweight would immediately establish his credentials in the new weight class
- His submission volume and strike output make him a stylistically dangerous opponent for any 155-pound contender
- The callout signals he may be seeking a fresh competitive challenge rather than continuing to navigate the crowded featherweight landscape
No specific lightweight opponent has been confirmed, and no fight has been officially announced. Whether the UFC moves to book Lopes at 155 pounds will depend on matching interest from a willing contender at the top of that division.
