Diego Lopes ‘in a bit of a tough spot’ at featherweight, wants next fight to be against a top UFC lightweight

Diego Lopes is considering a permanent move to lightweight after a recent outing at the UFC White House event in Washington D.C., where he defeated Steve Garcia by knockout while also serving as a backup for the Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje lightweight title unification bout.

The Brazilian featherweight has challenged for the title twice against Alexander Volkanovski, losing both encounters. With Volkanovski still reigning as champion, Lopes faces limited title prospects at 145 pounds in the near term. His impressive resume includes victories over Jean Silva, Brian Ortega, and Dan Ige, but those wins haven't been enough to secure another shot at "The Great." Recognizing this roadblock, Lopes has begun exploring opportunities at 155 pounds, where he believes several top-five and top-six matchups suit his fighting style better.

Lopes volunteered to serve as the official backup for the Topuria-Gaethje bout after learning that Arman Tsarukyan would not be in attendance. The move demonstrated his commitment to the division and showed UFC brass he was serious about potentially moving up. He weighed in at 146 pounds for his Garcia fight, then rehydrated and weighed in again as the lightweight backup, eventually stepping into the octagon at 166 pounds. Though the backup assignment never came into play—Gaethje decisively stopped Topuria—Lopes said the acceptance of his dual-weigh-in proposal sent a message to the promotion.

In conversations with UFC officials following the event, Lopes indicated that discussion focused more on lightweight opportunities than featherweight prospects. While he respects Volkanovski's legacy and would prefer to see him retire as champion rather than eventually lose the belt, Lopes acknowledged being "in a bit of a tough spot" at featherweight. Moving to lightweight, where title contention appears more accessible, now appears his preferred path forward.