Diego Lopes is openly weighing a move from featherweight to lightweight, with the surging contender revealing he may choose 155 pounds while Alexander Volkanovski remains champion at 145.
Lopes, who defeated Steve Garcia at UFC White House in Washington, DC earlier this month, said he has already spoken with the UFC about potential opportunities in the lightweight division.
"I have this desire to move up to 155 and take on an exciting fight," Lopes said, adding that one name in particular still stands out. "One name that might make sense is Yair Rodriguez because of the history between us, but we haven’t heard anything about him in over a year and a half."
Lopes explained that his recent activity has only sharpened his interest in testing himself at a new weight. "Since I fought in Miami, I’ve already fought three times, and nobody knows what’s happened with him. 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."
Lopes, who has only lost to Volkanovski across his last nine fights and has previously come up short in two featherweight title fights against the champion, said recent talks with the promotion focused heavily on lightweight. "I had a conversation with the UFC this past weekend and we actually talked more about the lightweight division than the featherweight division. I think the possibilities for a fight at 155 are opening up even more. We’ll see what happens and what the UFC’s plans are as well."
