Now ranked, Diego Lopes reflects on meteoric UFC rise: ‘It’s exceeded my expectations’

April 21, 2024 8:00 pm ET

Diego Lopes’s rise in the UFC has been a special one.

The 29-year-old has the MMA world by storm. Less than a year after he signed with the UFC, Lopes (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is a fan favorite and dark horse featherweight contender.

Lopes debuted on just a few days’ notice in May 2023. He almost took the unbeaten record from top contender Movsar Evloev, but gave him his toughest UFC fight and earned a Fight of the Night bonus in the process. Following his debut, Lopes submitted Gavin Tucker in August and knocked out Pat Sabatini in November. Both stoppages came in the first round and won Performance of the Night bonuses.

And earlier this month, he became the first to stop Sodiq Yusuff when he put him away in brutal fashion in the first round at UFC 300.

It’s been a wild 11 months for the Brazilian.

“It’s exceeded my expectations,” Lopes told MMA Junkie in Spanish regarding his UFC rise. “I knew that I could do it, but I didn’t think it would happen so quick, like it’s turned out.

“I do think one thing is certain: Every opportunity they’ve given me, it’s an opportunity to take a step forward, and I’ve done that in every single fight. Since the fight with Movsar, I’ve given it my all so people can know who I am. … I think the UFC gives you the tools to build yourself, and it’s up to you how you make your own path.

“I think I’ve done things well, and I’ve made the most of all opportunities. I think something that’s been key is that I’ve left every fight unscathed, and that’s helped me to be active.”

Diego Lopes has been in the UFC for less than 1 YEAR. Here’s what he’s achieved in 4 fights:

– 2 first-round KOs
– 1 first-round submission
– 3 POTN bonuses (likely 4)
– Fought in MSG
– Fought at #UFC300
– Beloved in Brazil and Mexico

— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) April 14, 2024

After he finished Yusuff, Lopes entered the UFC’s official featherweight rankings at No. 14. It was a big achievement for Lopes and one he said he’s proud of.

“A movie went through my head,” Lopes said when he found out he entered the UFC rankings. “It’s incredible, everything that’s happened and how it’s happened. I expected to enter the rankings after the fight in New York, but it didn’t happen. But now I have my name among the best 15 in the world, so for me, it’s very gratifying.

“I think this speaks to the work that we’ve put in, how we’ve won the fights, and I think it was inevitable that I was going to enter the rankings after this one.”

Lopes, who’s been angling for big fights, is excited to be among the best 15 fighters in the UFC’s featherweight division not only because it speaks of his standing in the promotion, but also because his upcoming fights should be against the bigger names in the division.

“I’ve been looking for these type of challenges,” Lopes said. “I’ve told you in the past that I want tough fights. That’s what I like. Now I’m in a position that whoever I fight against, it will be a very tough fight – and that motivates me a lot, and it motivates me to prepare even better and take care of my body and my mental health – everything.

“Sodiq forced me to work like never before because he’s one of the toughest fights in the division. Everyone knows that. So beating him the way I did, I think that lets all the contenders know that I’m a tough fight for them, just as they’re tough fights for me.”

Check out the Hablemos MMA YouTube channel for Spanish-language videos and interviews with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.