Diego Lopes: The Amazon-Born Brawler Taking Over UFC Featherweight Division

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Diego Lopes is rapidly becoming a prominent figure in the Featherweight division of the UFC, marking him as a fighter to closely watch.

Originating from Manaus in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Diego Lopes has undertaken a significant journey to reach the UFC. His martial arts journey began in childhood with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, leading to a professional MMA career launch at the age of 17.

At 19, Lopes relocated to Mexico to enhance his training and development as a fighter, where he built a reputation in the MMA scene. This groundwork paved the way for his UFC debut in 2023, where he quickly ascended to become a notable contender in the Featherweight division.

How old is Diego Lopes?

Diego Lopes is currently 30 years old, born on December 30, 1994. He spent his formative years in Manaus, Brazil, a city nestled within the Amazon rainforest.

Coming from a family deeply involved in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Lopes naturally followed suit. While specific details about his family remain scarce, it`s known that Lopes aspired to provide them with a better life when he moved from Brazil to train in Mexico.

His training in Mexico took place at the esteemed Lobo Gym, where he crossed paths with notable fighters such as Francisco Grasso and former UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso.

Diego Lopes Height, Weight, and Reach

Diego Lopes has a height of 5 feet 9 inches and competes in the UFC`s Featherweight division, which has a weight limit of 145lbs.

In his most recent fight, the Brazilian fighter`s weight was recorded at 146lbs, matching that of his opponent Brian Ortega on the fight night. He possesses a reach of 72.5 inches, equivalent to 184cm.

Diego Lopes Social Media Presence

Lopes has a considerable presence on Instagram with 586,000 followers as of April 2025. His posts primarily feature training content, promotions for his upcoming fights, and glimpses into his life outside the gym, including his hobbies. His Instagram handle is diegolopesmma.

The UFC fighter is also active on X, previously known as Twitter, where he frequently engages with fans and shares aspects of his daily life. On X, Lopes has 26,100 followers and can be found under the handle DiegolopesMMA.

Diego Lopes MMA Record

WLD (T)KO SUB
26-6-0 10-2 11-0

Diego Lopes MMA Stats

Significant Strikes Landed per Minute 4.20
Significant Striking Accuracy 54%
Significant Strikes Absorbed per Minute 4.11
Significant Strike Defense 51%
Average Takedowns Landed per 15 minutes 0.50
Takedown Accuracy 40%
Takedown Defense 53%
Average Submissions Attempted per 15 minutes 2.76

Diego Lopes Net Worth

With 6 UFC fights and only one loss, Diego Lopes is on track to achieve significant financial success in his career.

Reports from MMA Salaries indicate that Lopes earned $304,000 for his victory against Dan Ige at UFC 303. It`s reasonable to assume a similar or higher payout for his win over Brian Ortega at UFC 306.

However, precise figures regarding Lopes’ total net worth are not widely available and reported numbers can vary considerably.

Diego Lopes Next Fight

At UFC 314, Diego Lopes is set to face former champion Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship.

Following Ilia Topuria’s relinquishing of the Featherweight belt in the weeks leading up to the event, Lopes and Volkanovski will now compete for the vacant title in Miami on April 12.

A victory in this fight would secure Lopes` first UFC title at the age of 30.

Diego Lopes Walk-out Song

Diego Lopes is known for his unpredictable choice of walk-out music, often surprising audiences with his selections.

In his most recent bout against Brian Ortega at UFC 306, Lopes chose the popular Mexican song “La Chona” by Los Tucanes de Tijuana as his entrance music.

Diego Lopes vs. Movsar Evloev

Diego Lopes`s UFC debut was remarkably eventful and nearly resulted in an upset victory. Stepping in on just five days` notice as a replacement for Bryce Mitchell at UFC 288, he faced Movsar Evloev, who was then ranked #10.

Despite the short preparation time, Lopes started aggressively, landing significant punches against Evloev and momentarily stunning the higher-ranked opponent.

Although his pace slowed due to the lack of a full training camp, Lopes managed to secure a Kimura lock that almost forced Evloev to tap out. Ultimately, Evloev narrowly escaped and won the fight by unanimous decision, but Lopes`s debut performance was notably courageous.

Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega

A highlight of Lopes’s career was his victory over Brian Ortega at UFC 306, held at the Sphere.

Lopes maintained control throughout the fight, leading to a unanimous decision victory in what was his most significant UFC fight to date.

This match was Ortega’s final fight in the Featherweight division before transitioning to Lightweight, and he concluded his featherweight tenure with a defeat to the rising Brazilian star. Lopes showcased dominance early in the fight, dropping Ortega with a combination in the first round and maintaining control for the duration.

Callum Thornweather
Callum Thornweather

Callum Thornweather resides in Norwich, where he's established himself as a prominent voice in football and tennis journalism. His distinctive approach combines statistical analysis with storytelling, making complex sporting tactics accessible to casual readers.

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