Diego Lopes targets lightweight contender after failed UFC featherweight title bids: “I’m definitely in a bit of a tough spot”

Diego Lopes might be seeking new challenges at 155 pounds given his failed bids to become the UFC featherweight titleholder.

Lopes is one of the top 145-pound competitors in MMA, but he appears to have hit a brick wall. He has fought Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight gold twice and was unsuccessful in both attempts. Lopes has gone 7-2 in his last nine outings, and it’s clear that he has emerged as the No. 2 featherweight in the world, but perhaps a change of scenery is due.

In an interview with Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting, Lopes admitted that his time at 145 pounds may have reached its peak.

“It’s a little difficult,” Lopes said. “As long as Volkanovski doesn’t retire, it’s going to be hard to get another title shot. I’d have to be rooting for him to lose, but I’d rather see him retire as champion, because he was such a great champion for the division. Seeing him walk away with the belt would be something really special. Then he’d leave the door open for the guys coming up, and I see myself as part of that group too.”

While Lopes won’t promise that his next fight will be in the lightweight division, he is hoping to face a top contender in the division at some point.

“But I’m definitely in a bit of a tough spot,” he continued. “I have this desire to move up to 155 and take on an exciting fight. I think there are some great matchups for me in the top five or top six, fights that fit my style really well. So I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen in my division. 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.”

Lopes actually served as a backup option in case he was needed for the UFC Freedom 250 main event. Ultimately, Lopes scored a second-round knockout win over Steve Garcia, while Justin Gaethje shocked the world by stopping Ilia Topuria to unify the UFC Lightweight Championship.

How do you think Diego Lopes would fare in the lightweight division? Share your take in the comments below.