Diego Lopes considers move to lightweight after UFC featherweight stalemate

Diego Lopes celebrates following his win at “UFC Freedom 250.” | 📷: Getty/UFC

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Diego Lopes is pondering a change of scenery.

The two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title challenger is debating leaving the weight class, claiming that he wants to compete at lightweight in his next fight. Lopes last fought at UFC Freedom 250, where he finished Steve Garcia.

Diego Lopes lightweight move and UFC featherweight title picture

While Lopes is still among the top featherweights, two losses to current champion Alexander Volkanovski puts him far from title contention, and his next move potentially opens up new possibilities.

“It’s a little difficult.,” Lopes told MMA Fighting. “As long as Volkanovski doesn’t retire, it’s going to be hard to get another title shot. I’d have to be rooting for him to lose, but I’d rather see him retire as champion because he was such a great champion for the division. I’m definitely in a bit of a tough spot.”

He then revealed his desire to move up.

“I have this desire to move up to 155 and take on an exciting fight… So, I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen in my division. I had a conversation with the UFC this past weekend, and we actually talked more about the lightweight division than the featherweight division.”

Notably, Lopes weighed in as the backup for Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. He claims that if the promotion allows him to bounce back and forth between weight classes he’ll do so, but lightweight is his clear preference if he has to choose one.

“If the UFC gives me the opportunity to keep fighting in both divisions, I’d love that. But if they told me, ‘You have to pick one weight class,’ then, considering where things stand right now, and with Volkanovski still being the champion, I think I’d choose 155.”

This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com

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