Diego Lopes Announces Lightweight Move, Advanced Talks for UFC Return

UFC fighter Diego Lopes is officially transitioning to the lightweight division following his recent victory at UFC Freedom 250.

Despite his past challenges in the featherweight division, including two losses to the current champion Alexander Volkanovski, Lopes has recently showcased impressive performances. His knockout victory over Steve Garcia at the White House, however, might not be enough for an immediate title shot, requiring a few more wins to build his case.

Lopes, who has also secured recent featherweight wins against Jean Silva and Brian Ortega, has consistently been considered large for the 145-pound weight class and has hinted at a potential move to lightweight for some time.

Amidst his unusual position in the featherweight rankings, Lopes has decided to take control of his career and make the jump to lightweight.

Diego Lopes Confirms Full-Time Lightweight Switch, Eyes MSG Return

In a recent interview with Ag.Fight, Lopes provided an update on his upcoming Octagon appearance.

"We are taking a significant step in our career now; we are moving up a division, and we are in advanced talks," Lopes stated.

"We are hoping to fight at Madison Square Garden in November."

A potential opponent in the lightweight division could be BMF titleholder Charles Oliveira. Oliveira was reportedly slated to fight Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331 but recently withdrew from fight negotiations. The timeline for the BMF champion's return remains uncertain due to the tragic passing of his teammate Allan Nascimento.

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. Throughout his combat sports career, he has competed as low as the bantamweight division.

As the lightweight division continues to feature exciting matchups for the remainder of the year, Lopes' entry into the weight class opens up numerous potential fight bookings. News regarding Lopes' return to the cage could be imminent.