Jun 14, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, UNITED STATES; UFC fighter Diego Lopes attends the fight between Cody Garbrandt (red gloves) and Raoni Barcelos (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Diego Lopes Shows Utmost Respect To Alexander Volkanovski As He Recalls UFC 314 Title Fight

The journey to a UFC title shot rarely follows a straight path, and the rise of Diego Lopes through the featherweight ranks perfectly shows this chaotic climb to championship contention. After making his UFC debut on short notice and quickly building momentum with impressive finishes, Lopes found himself in the title picture fast. His victories over quality opponents like Sodiq Yusuff, Dan Ige, and Brian Ortega showcased not just his finishing ability but his adaptability against different fighting styles.

Each win brought him closer to that coveted championship opportunity, and when the call finally came to face Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant featherweight belt at UFC 314, Lopes had earned his shot through skill and determination rather than hype or politics. Despite losing that fight, Lopes showed utmost respect to ‘The Great’ as he recalled the UFC 314 title fight.

Diego Lopes Reveals The Adaptability Of Alexander Volkanovski

Reflecting on his title fight against Volkanovski, Lopes has been refreshingly honest about what went wrong and why the former champion proved too difficult to solve on that April night. According to Lopes, he tried to make adjustments throughout the fight, but Volkanovski kept changing his game plan and adapting faster than Lopes could counter. This constant evolution and tactical flexibility is exactly what made Volkanovski such a dominant champion during his reign.

“We kept trying to adjust but every time we did, Volk came up with something new. That is why he is considered one of the best in the world,” said Lopes via ESPN MMA.

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Lopes acknowledged that Volkanovski’s ability to read the fight and switch strategies mid-battle was simply superior. The Brazilian contender earned a “Fight of the Night” bonus for his performance against Volkanovski. Despite losing by unanimous decision, Lopes never stopped pressing forward and trying to find ways to hurt the crafty Australian. He didn’t make excuses or complain about the judges. Instead, he gave credit where credit was due and used the experience as motivation to improve his own game.

Now Lopes faces Jean Silva in the main event of Noche UFC. He is carrying the weight of expectation and the burning desire to prove that his title shot wasn’t a fluke. A dominant performance against Silva would send a clear message to the featherweight division. ‘Lord’ represents a dangerous test with his perfect UFC record and finishing ability. Beating him convincingly could fast-track Lopes back into title contention.

(Image Credit: Brett Davis – Imagn Images)

Alexander Volkanovksi

Diego Lopes

UFC 314

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!