Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Diego Lopes (blue gloves) prepares to fight Dan Ige (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Diego Lopes Next Fight: Lopes To Take On Former Interim Champion; Makes Way For Highly Anticipated Title Rematch

Diego Lopes is set to face a former interim champion in what promises to be a thrilling matchup!

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Diego Lopes (blue gloves) prepares to fight Dan Ige (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC featherweight division has been buzzing lately. While champions come and go, 2024 has witnessed the meteoric rise of Diego Lopes, a Brazilian fighter who has been leaving jaws dropped and opponents bewildered. He racked up three impressive wins against ranked opponents last year, including a masterclass against Brian Ortega.

Now, Lopes has earned himself a shot at another big name. But this time, he is not just getting a fight; he is getting his first main event spotlight against former interim champion Yair Rodriguez in Mexico City.

🚨 BREAKING: Per sources, Diego Lopes vs. Yair Rodriguez is in the works for UFC Mexico on March 29th, targeted to be the main event, via @JakeNoeckerMMA pic.twitter.com/PzchERHNiw
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) January 10, 2025

The Mexico City crowd is in for a treat. Rodriguez fighting in his homeland always brings an extra level of electricity to the arena. The last time he fought there, the fans went wild. Now, with Lopes stepping into enemy territory, fans have got all the ingredients for a classic!

Yair Rodriguez, known for his spinning attacks, has been eager to bounce back after two tough losses. His last victory came against Josh Emmett, where he showed why they call him “El Pantera.” The timing couldn’t be better for both fighters, as this showdown clears the path for what everyone’s been whispering about: the rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.

Also Read: Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2: Real or Rumor?

Lopes vs. Rodriguez Clears The Path For Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria Rematch

The latest shuffle in the featherweight division comes in the form of a spicy matchup between rising star Diego Lopes and former interim champ Yair Rodriguez. This fight conveniently opens up the perfect window for some unfinished business at the top.

With such a deep roster in the featherweight division, it surprisingly has few legit contenders right now. While Movsar Evloev sits in the corner with his perfect record, the division keeps moving forward without him. Max Holloway won’t be next due to obvious reasons. The only matchup that makes sense would be Alexander Volkanovski’s rematch with Ilia Topuria.

BREAKING NEWS 🚨

Ilia Topuria vs Alexander Volkanovski 2 targeted for #UFCSpain in August 2025 pic.twitter.com/CfNvP90s9l
— Rueben Carter 🥇 (@realruebenking) November 24, 2024

Volkanovski had been a dominant champion at featherweight. And no one else deserves a title shot more than him. Now he has rested and healed up, the Australian is ready to fight for what was once his. The stars have aligned perfectly for this fight. Meanwhile, Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez will most likely fight for a title eliminator spot. They will be looking forward to seeing who their next opponent will be!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Alexander Volkanovksi

Diego Lopes

Ilia Topuria

UFC

Yair Rodriguez

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!