Diego Lopes defended his spot in the Top 5 of the 145-pound rankings by smashing “Fighting Frauds” featherweight Jean Silva last weekend in San Antonio. Unfortunately, Lopes is just one fight removed from his decision loss to current division champion, Alexander Volkanovski.
“The Great” will likely move on to face No. 1-ranked Movsar Evloev or No. 4-ranked Lerone Murphy.
That’s why former bantamweight titleholder, Aljamain Sterling, has renewed his campaign to fight Lopes for the next crack at the 145-pound
crown. “Funk Master” first teased the potential eliminator last summer, then ramped up his rhetoric after their inevitable “tension shift” backstage.
“Winner gets the title shot,” Sterling wrote on social media. “RUN IT!”
“A lot of people are going to ask me who’s next?” Volkanovski said on YouTube. “I think the UFC were waiting to see what happens with Jean Silva and Diego. I know Lerone Murphy’s obviously one guy coming off a big KO against [Aaron] Pico. I obviously said to that one, ‘Yeah, see you later.’ But then we’re waiting around. So I’m guessing we were waiting around to see what happens with this fight, so I don’t know. Does Diego get a rematch? Crazy win like that, wild fashion again, doing what he always does, I know the UFC absolutely loves him.”
“Whether they push for him, we’ll see what happens,” Volkanovski continued. “But either way, you guys know me: whoever it is, it is. Obviously, I just fought Diego, does it make sense to just rematch straight away? But you never know what the UFC want. I’ll have a chat to ‘em, I know Lerone Murphy’s there. Let’s see what happens. I should get some information on that very soon, and I can’t really tell you straightaway, can I? I guess the UFC will let you know when that is.“
Volkanovski is expected to return in late 2025 or early 2026.
