UFC fighter Diego Lopes, who recently scored a significant win against Sodiq Yusuff, is seeking a rematch with Movsar Evloev in his quest to become the world champion.
Diego Lopes is itching for a rematch. He’s got a score to settle.
He bagged a career-defining victory when he took down Sodiq Yusuff in a mere 89 seconds at UFC 300. A record, if you ask me. He’s the first to finish Yusuff in the UFC, and he did it on the grandest stage. The Brazilian prospect claims it was all part of the plan.
“We all had faith in this outcome,” Lopes confessed, his words translated on The MMA Hour.
Looking back at the fight, it was clear that Sodiq could be touched, but finishing him? Not many have done that. But that was the goal. The result? Well, it speaks volumes about our grit and grind.
Lopes’ victory landed him his first spot in the UFC featherweight rankings, debuting at No. 14. But he’s just getting started. After finishing Yusuff, Lopes jumped the fence to have a word with UFC CEO Dana White, who was right there, cageside. He laid out his roadmap to becoming the world’s best, and it begins with a rematch.
“I hopped over the cage and had a chat with Dana,” Lopes recalls. “I told him, ‘Dana, I’ll be the champ someday. Give me my rematch with Movsar Evloev on International Fight Week. After that, I’ll take down Movsar Evloev and head to Spain.'”
Lopes had his first encounter with Evloev at UFC 288, stepping in on short notice for his promotional debut. Despite being a rookie and going up against one of the division’s top dogs, Lopes held his own, losing a decision in a competitive bout that won Fight of the Night honors. Since then, Lopes has been nearly flawless in the UFC, with three wins, all by first-round finish. Evloev, on the other hand, has only competed once, winning a unanimous decision over Arnold Allen in January, putting him on the brink of a title shot.
But with Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski seemingly ahead of Evloev in the title shot queue, Lopes is hopeful. He thinks this could be his chance to get the rematch next and put himself in the title conversation.
“I had a word with my manager this morning,” Lopes shared. “I told him I’m eager for the rematch. That’s the fight I want. I’m ready to fight. I want that fight. It’s the fight to make. He can say whatever he wants about, ‘Oh, hey, guys don’t want to fight me!’ But I’ll fight him. I’m here. I’m game.”
“Absolutely,” Lopes added. “That’s the fight we want. He’s right there, No. 5, so beating him puts me right there in title contention and that’s what we’re after.”