Diego Lopes Confirms Full-Time Switch to Lightweight Division, Nearing UFC Return

Diego Lopes, a popular figure in the UFC featherweight division, has officially announced his decision to move up to the lightweight class. This transition comes after his recent victory at UFC Freedom 250.

Despite being a former title challenger in the featherweight division and securing a notable knockout win against Steve Garcia, Lopes finds himself in a complex position regarding a future title shot, having faced two losses against the current champion, Alexander Volkanovski. While impressive wins against Jean Silva and Brian Ortega have bolstered his record, a path back to a title opportunity would likely require several more victories.

Lopes, who is considered large for the featherweight division, has expressed his interest in moving up for some time. Now, he is taking definitive steps to make that happen.

In a recent interview with Ag.Fight, Lopes revealed his career plans:

"We are taking a leap in our career now; we are moving up a division, in advanced talks," Lopes stated. "We are hoping to fight at MSG in November."

A potential opponent in the lightweight division could be the BMF titleholder, Charles Oliveira. However, Oliveira's return timeline remains uncertain following the recent tragic passing of his teammate, Allan Nascimento, and the reported withdrawal from negotiations for a fight against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331.

While Lopes has not competed in the UFC's lightweight division, he did participate in a 165-pound catchweight bout against Dan Ige at UFC 303. His career has seen him compete as low as the bantamweight division.

With the lightweight division offering numerous exciting matchups for the remainder of the year, Lopes' entry into the weight class opens up a variety of potential fight bookings. News regarding Lopes' next fight is anticipated in the coming weeks.