Diego Lopes to move to UFC lightweight division

Brazilian fighter Diego Lopes has confirmed he is moving permanently to the lightweight division (70 kg) in the UFC. Following two title challenges in the featherweight division against champion Alexander Volkanovski, Lopes is seeking a new chapter in his career.

Lopes stated that negotiations regarding his next opponent are in advanced stages. He expressed a strong desire to compete this year, specifically targeting the UFC event scheduled for November at Madison Square Garden in New York.

While there were previous discussions regarding a potential matchup against Arman Tsarukyan, Lopes noted that those talks did not progress into a formal contract. He is now focused on finalizing his transition to the higher weight class.