Diego Lopes is targeting a title fight against Ilia Topuria in Spain and breaks down how the fight would go
11/09/2024 16:58
Featherweight fan favorite Diego Lopes is looking to secure himself a 145lb title shot with a huge win over Brian Ortega at UFC 306 this coming weekend and has explained how a fight between him and current champion Ilia Topuria would go down.
Since making his UFC debut at UFC 288 in May last year, Diego Lopes has rapidly become a favorite amongst the fanbase because of his exciting fight style and marketable personality.
Diego Lopes wants a title fight against Ilia Topuria in Spain
After going on a four-fight win streak, the Brazilian is now likely one win away from securing himself a title shot.
Current champion, Ilia Topuria, is scheduled to defend his strap against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October and if ‘El Matador’ successfully gets past Holloway, he will likely get his wish of fighting in Spain granted.
With that, Lopes is hopeful that Topuria beats Holloway and he can secure a fight against Topuria in Spain, especially considering the champion has mentioned him as a potential future challenger.
“I hope, it’s crazy because Ilia mentioned my name, UFC has plans to have UFC Spain, UFC needs a guy who speaks Spanish for the promotion of the fight, I don’t know, maybe Ilia wins, I win and maybe we go to Spain,” Lopes said in an interview with Submission Radio.
According to former featherweight king, Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC has told him that if he can wait, he is guaranteed the title shot after UFC 308. Lopes believes that if Volkanovski does end up fighting Topuria again, the fight would play out differently.
“It’s tough, you know. I think now Volkanovski has had the time, the rest, and recovery the guy has fought everybody in the division… If Volk is next for the title, I think it’s a different fight from the last time,” he explained.
- PANIC ATTACK:Middleweight fighter who beat Alex Pereira in MMA withdrew from DWCS fight just minutes before scheduled walkout
Diego Lopes breaks down how a fight against Ilia Topuria would go
The 29-year-old Brazilian has an extremely well-rounded skillset and will likely pose a problem to the majority of fighters in the featherweight division.
With ‘El Matador’ predominantly being a powerful boxer, Lopes has broken down how a fight between him and the current champion would go.
“I think it’s a big fight. Ilia is complete, he’s a good boxer, good jiu-jitsu, and good wrestling but my coaches are so smart. When they watch the fights they follow the minimal details to work this.
“I remember sitting with my coach and watching Ilia (fights), my coach knows I (will win) this fight. Maybe it’s a hard fight but I think it’s possible it’s a good fight against Ilia,” Lopes claimed.
