{"id":36923,"date":"2026-02-26T19:53:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:53:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/ExUFC-featherweight-title-challenger-ponders-move-to-155-pounds-200268"},"modified":"2026-02-26T19:53:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:53:03","slug":"ex-ufc-featherweight-title-challenger-ponders-move-to-155-pounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/ex-ufc-featherweight-title-challenger-ponders-move-to-155-pounds\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-UFC featherweight title challenger ponders move to 155 pounds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Two-time
\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> title challenger Diego Lopes<\/a>
\nis looking for a new lease on life at lightweight.<\/p>\n

After suffering his second championship defeat to Alexander
\nVolkanovski<\/a> at UFC 325, Lopes took the opportunity to spend
\nthree weeks with his family in Manaus, Brazil. On Wednesday, Lopes
\nspoke with Brazilian journalist Laerte Viana<\/a>, where he broke down his unsuccessful
\njaunt for the belt while giving the Aussie his laurels.<\/p>\n

\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe did everything in our power and it wasn\u2019t enough,\u201d a resigned
\nLopes admitted. \u201cI just have to admit that he is better. He moves
\nwell to the left and right. I\u2019m not the first person to lose twice
\nto him in a title fight, so I\u2019m quite calm about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

After his failed second try for the 145-pound throne, rumors spread
\nthat the Brazilian by way of Mexico damaged one or both feet during
\nthe match. Lopes shed light on the injuries he sustained against
\nVolkanovski, where there were no outright breaks but some minor
\nfractures that put him out of action for a short time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had imaging tests done the next day and no ligament or tendon
\ninjuries were found, but there were some small fractures in the
\nbones, so I needed to wear a boot for the last few weeks. Yesterday
\nI had new imaging tests and I\u2019m waiting for the results to see when
\nI can return to training,\u201d the Brazilian revealed.<\/p>\n

Moving on Up<\/h2>\n

Following the defeat, some questioned whether Lopes\u2019 serious weight
\ncut played a factor in his performance. Lopes put some credence
\nbehind that, as he himself thinks his next move might be up a
\ndivision.<\/p>\n

\u201cA third title shot would be difficult because I’ve already lost
\ntwo, so we\u2019re analyzing whether I stay in the category or try to
\nfight at a higher weight,\u201d the 31-year-old explained. \u201cI spent the
\nlast few weeks in Brazil with my family, when I get back, I\u2019ll
\nanalyze it with my coaches and manager.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lopes continued, \u201cBut we also have to see what the UFC\u2019s plans are,
\nright? Because we know that, even if you want to move up, I think
\nit\u2019s a little more difficult when you\u2019re already at a much higher
\nlevel. I\u2019ve had two title fights, I\u2019m number two, it\u2019s a little
\nmore difficult than if I were starting out and wanted to change
\nweight classes. An example is [Brian]\nOrtega<\/a>. How many times has he said he wanted to move up a
\nweight class, and the UFC has never been able to find a lightweight
\nfight for him that everyone would like? First, I want to talk to
\nthe UFC, I want to see what they have in mind for me, what they\u2019re
\ngoing to tell me, and also give them my opinion. Moving up a weight
\nclass is a possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

In case he remains in the featherweight division, Lopes has plenty
\nof options at his disposal. A nine-fight UFC veteran with two of
\nthose appearances against Volkanovski, he has fresh matchups that
\ncould help sort out the logjammed title picture. With the victor
\nbetween Lerone
\nMurphy<\/a> and Movsar
\nEvloev<\/a> likely up next for the belt, the Brazilian has a few
\nnames he would like to cross off his list.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d accept any fight,\u201d he stated confidently, \u201cbut if I had to
\nask, it would be either Arnold
\nAllen<\/a>, Yair
\nRodriguez<\/a> or whoever loses between Movsar and Lerone.\u201d<\/p>\n