Diego Lopes had been anticipating a future showdown with Ilia Topuria, but he fully understands if the soon-to-be former featherweight champion seeks a new challenge. With Dana White confirming that Topuria will relinquish his 145-pound title to pursue a move up to lightweight, Lopes now finds himself facing Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant title in the main event of UFC 314 on April 12.
In response to Topuria's decision to vacate the belt, Lopes shared his thoughts in an interview with ESPN, noting that UFC management had made it clear to the roster: any champion who desires to move up a weight class must forfeit their title before taking that step.
“They were very clear to us that they said that they are no longer giving [the] chance to jump from one weight class to another,” Lopes explained. “If you want to move up, you have to vacate your title. That’s what UFC has said to all champions who are planning to move up a weight class. They will no longer have the status of double champion simultaneously."
He continued, “If he is going to be a double champion, [he] will be nothing more than a champion of two categories.”
Topuria earned MMA Fighting's 2024 Fighter of the Year award after securing two Knockout of the Year contenders—one against Volkanovski at UFC 298 to claim the 145-pound title, and another against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in his first title defense. In doing so, Topuria made history as the first fighter to ever stop Holloway with strikes. The Georgian fighter now hopes for an immediate lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev, though the UFC has yet to officially announce any matchup.
Lopes, currently riding a five-fight win streak, will be stepping into his first title bout against Volkanovski. In White’s statement, the UFC president mentioned that Topuria felt he had accomplished all he could in the featherweight division. While Lopes isn’t critical of Topuria’s decision to take such a significant risk, he believes there were still plenty of challenges left for “El Matador” at 145 pounds.
“But I think, in the end, it’s up to each individual to decide,” Lopes said. “If [Topuria] feels he has nothing else to do in the division, well, he should move forward with his career."
Lopes added, “I know that in the division we have very good fighters that could give [Topuria tough fights]. We can even put him in serious trouble, or even defeat him, but if he feels that because he defeated Max and Volk, who are legends in the division, his work here is already done, well, it’s fine. He has the right to believe so, and go ahead.”
