Diego Lopes knows that he’s never going to get another featherweight title shot for as long as Alexander Volkanovski is 145-pound champion, having already been defeated by “The Great” in two separate title fights. That’s why the Brazilian is contemplating a jump to 155 pounds, unless matchmakers are able to get Yair Rodriguez to sign on the dotted line.
“One name that might make sense is Yair Rodriguez because of the history between us, but we haven’t heard anything about him in over a year and a half,”
Lopes told MMA Fighting. “Since I fought in Miami, I’ve already fought three times, and nobody knows what’s happened with him. If the UFC gives me the opportunity to keep fighting in both divisions, I’d love that. But if they told me, ‘You have to pick one weight class,’ then considering where things stand right now, and with Volkanovski still being the champion, I think I’d choose 155.”
Rodriguez (20-5, 1 NC) has not competed since capturing a decision win over Patricio Freire in early 2025.
“I have this desire to move up to 155 and take on an exciting fight,” Lopes added. “I think there are some great matchups for me in the top five or top six, fights that fit my style really well. So I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen in my division. I had a conversation with the UFC this past weekend and we actually talked more about the lightweight division than the featherweight division. I think the possibilities for a fight at 155 are opening up even more. We’ll see what happens and what the UFC’s plans are as well.”
The 31 year-old Lopes (28-8) annihilated Steve Garcia at UFC White House earlier this month in Washington, DC and has only lost to Volkanovski across his last nine fights. If Lopes can secure another matchup over the next few months then it will mark the third time he’s notched three fights within a single calendar year.
