Diego Lopez’s rise in the UFC has been something special.
The 29-year-old is taking the MMA world by storm. Less than a year after signing with the UFC, Lopez (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is a fan favorite and a dark horse prospect in the featherweight division.
Lopez debuted in May 2023 with just a few days’ notice. He nearly stole the undefeated record from top contender Movsar Evloev, but gave him the toughest fight in the UFC and earned a Fight of the Night bonus in the process. After his debut, Lopez submitted Gavin Tucker in August and KO’d Pat Sabatini in November. Both stoppages occurred in the first round, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus.
And earlier this month, he became the first to stop Sodiq Yousaf when he brutally eliminated him in the first round of UFC 300.
It’s been a rough 11 months for the Brazilian.
“It exceeded my expectations,” Lopez told MMA Junkie in Spanish about his run in the UFC. “I knew it would be possible, but I didn’t expect it to happen as quickly as it did.
“One thing is for sure, every opportunity they have given me is an opportunity to take a step forward and I have done that in every fight. Since the fight with Mohsah, I I’ve been doing everything I can to let people know who I am. …I think the UFC gives you the tools to build yourself, and it’s up to you how you carve your own path. is.
“I think I did well and made the most of every opportunity. The important thing was that I got through every match unscathed and I think that helped me be active. .”
Diego Lopez has been in the UFC for less than a year. Here’s what he accomplished in four games:
– 2 1st round KOs
– 1 submission for round 1
– 3 (possibly 4) POTN bonuses.
– Fought in MSG
– fought in #UFC300
– Loved in Brazil and Mexico
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) April 14, 2024
After the Yusaf fight, Lopez was ranked No. 14 in the UFC’s official featherweight rankings. This is a huge accomplishment for Lopez and he is proud, he said.
When Lopez found out he was joining the UFC rankings, he said, “A certain movie went through my mind.” “Incredible, everything that happened and how it happened. After the fight in New York I expected to get into the rankings, but that didn’t happen. But now I’m among the best in the world My name is in number 15, so I’m very happy.
“I think this speaks to the effort we’ve put in and how we’ve won games. I think it was inevitable that we would be ranked after this game.”
Lopez has been looking forward to the big fight and is excited to be among the top 15 fighters in the UFC’s featherweight division. That’s not only because it speaks to his status in the promotion, but also because his upcoming matches should be against big names in his class. .
“I was looking for this kind of challenge,” Lopez said. “I’ve said before that I want tough fights. That’s what I like. Now I’m in a position where no matter who I fight, it’s going to be a very tough fight. It gives me a lot of motivation to be better prepared and take care of my body and my mental health, everything.
“Sodiku forced me to work harder than ever before because he is one of the toughest fights in this division. We all know that. So to beat him the way I did And I think I’m going to let all the contestants know that it’s going to be a tough fight for them, just as it’s going to be a tough fight for them.”
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