Diego Lopes is aiming to return to the octagon this September with a clear focus on securing a fight against Yair Rodriguez. After falling short in his last featherweight title attempt against Alexander Volkanovski, Lopes is eager to bounce back and sees a matchup with Rodriguez as a key step in his path to title contention.
Rodriguez, however, has shown little enthusiasm for making this fight happen, which has only intensified Lopes’s frustration. Despite the lack of progress in setting up the bout, Lopes remains determined to take on any top contender the UFC offers, including names like Jean Silva and Arnold Allen, signaling his readiness to stay active and climb the rankings.
Lopes recently shared his thoughts in an interview with MMA Fighting, addressing Rodriguez directly:
“I think this guy is so nervous in the video. This guy is talking a lot of words, but have no sense or context in your words. Now, for me, it’s [any] fight the UFC sends me, I’m OK. I want to fight Yair, but Yair say nothing, I don’t know. Maybe Jean Silva, Arnold Allen, everyone that’s in the ranking, I’m waiting for the fight. Now in my position, I lost my title fight, I think I need only one big fight for me [to fight for] the title again.”
—Diego Lopes, Featherweight Contender
Diego Lopes Embraces UFC BJJ as a Major Advancement for Grappling
In addition to his ambitions inside the cage, Diego Lopes expressed strong enthusiasm about the recent launch of UFC BJJ, highlighting how it represents a significant development for Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the broader grappling community.
Raised with a deep connection to jiu-jitsu, Lopes views UFC’s dedicated platform for the art not simply as a growth opportunity but as a long-awaited formal recognition that brings professionalism and increased attention to the discipline he values highly.
He explained his emotions and hopes for UFC BJJ’s future impact:
“I can’t even describe how emotional I am right now with UFC BJJ coming up. It’s something that will come to revolutionize jiu-jitsu and evolve it. It’s a completely different market, right? It gives a very good support to everybody to have what’s necessary and get even more attention and professionalism, so I think it’s very good. I’m truly emotional because I come from jiu-jitsu, so seeing what the UFC is creating for everybody on BJJ is something very emotional.”
—Diego Lopes, UFC Featherweight Fighter
What’s Next for Diego Lopes and the Featherweight Division?
With the UFC featherweight ranks featuring high-level contenders like Yair Rodriguez, Jean Silva, Arnold Allen, and championship-level fighters such as Alexander Volkanovski, Lopes’s next steps carry large stakes. The fighter’s readiness to accept any opponent sent his way reflects his determination to rebound quickly and reestablish himself as a serious title contender.
The tension surrounding a potential fight with Rodriguez remains a focal point, exposing nerves that Lopes is keen to capitalize on. Should this bout be finalized, it could play a decisive role in shaping the featherweight title picture later this year.
Meanwhile, Lopes’s excitement about UFC BJJ signals his broader commitment to the sport, suggesting he is focused on growth both inside and outside the octagon.