Diego Lopes has been announced as part of UFC 308. His victory over Brian Ortega, a former title challenger, solidified his position as one of the top contenders in the division. The Brazilian will now be the official backup for the featherweight title bout between champion Ilia Topuria and former champion Max Holloway. Here is what happened:
This high-stakes fight is set for this upcoming October in Abu Dhabi. Diego Lopes will be on standby in case either fighter is unable to compete. This opportunity is a testament to Lopes’ recent success and growing reputation in the UFC. Even if Lopes does not compete at UFC 308, this backup role places him on the cusp of a title shot in the near future.
Lopes’ journey to this role has been a story of sheer resilience and perseverance. After initially falling short on Dana White’s Contender Series, he finally made his UFC debut on short notice at UFC 288. However, he lost his first-ever fight in the promotion to Movsar Evloev.
Despite this loss, his performance impressed the UFC enough to secure him a multi-fight contract. Since then, he has been on an impressive five-fight win streak. The Brazilian has defeated a bunch of notable names in the featherweight division. Some of them like Dan Ige, Sodiq Yusuff, Pat Sabatini, and most recently, Brian Ortega at UFC 306.
🚨 Diego Lopes officially announces that he will be the backup fighter for Max Holloway vs Ilia Topuria at #UFC308 on October 26th 🔥#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/JbGFdPdSAR
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 27, 2024
Lopes’ rise in the division has been swift. He was recently vocal about wanting a shot at former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. But with Volkanovski turning down a potential showdown, Lopes got a significant opportunity with the backup role for UFC 308.
Diego Lopes is grateful after becoming a backup fighter for Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway title fight
Diego Lopes was born in 1994 in Manaus, Brazil. His journey in martial arts began early, starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 7. By 16, he had earned a purple belt, which paved the way for his transition into MMA. He made his professional MMA debut in 2012, grinding through regional circuits before finally making it to the UFC in 2023.
Diego Lopes (Image via Imago)With his role as a backup fighter confirmed at the UFC 308 title fight, Lopes sent out a gratitude post on social media. Taking to Instagram, he highlighted his struggles leading up to the position he is in today. He also thanked everyone who helped him be who he is today.
Everything I got today, I earned through hard work… I thank everyone who helped me achieve what I am today.
Diego Lopes via Instagram
Lopes’ path to the UFC was anything but smooth. He relocated to Mexico to advance his career, where he met fellow fighter Alessandro Costa. Together, they founded the Brazilian Warriors gym. Eventually, they joined forces with Lobo Gym, home to former UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and bantamweight contender Irene Aldana. Under the guidance of Francisco Grasso (Alexa’s uncle), Lopes trained alongside some of the best fighters in the sport.
He initially focused more on coaching, even cornering Grasso during her title win over Valentina Shevchenko in 2023. However, when he got a last-minute call to debut in the UFC against Movsar Evloev at UFC 288, he seized the opportunity. His early struggles, from financial hardships to long waits for his UFC shot, shaped his resilience. Now, his patience has bore fruit and his career is rapidly gaining momentum.
