Diego Lopes has the ability to change the game in a rematch.
The Mexican featherweight will get his revenge on Alexander Volkanovski when the UFC’s second main event is broadcasted by Paramount+ 2026.
Lopes was given the Volkanovski match at UFC 325 Sydney, Australia ahead of undefeated candidates Lerone Murphy or Movsar Evloev.
Volkanovski defeated Lopes in UFC 314 back in April. He put on a classic display to start his second reign at 145 pounds.
Having analyzed that fight ahead of his second shot against ‘Alexander the Great’, the upcoming title challenger thinks he has pinpointed the key factor contributing to the setback in Miami.
LATEST NEWS – A UFC star ranked in the top ten gets his revenge after a 10-year wait.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Diego Lopes claims that his failure to win the UFC title was due to him not having fun.
Lopes believes that the title shot he had earlier this year, marked a lot of firsts and left him with a distorted view of combat.
Lopes stressed that he should enjoy his fights and have fun during an appearance on Submission Radio. He had forgotten to do this when he stepped into the cage for his first chance at a championship.
“I learned a lot,”Lopes commented on the UFC 314 defeat.
“When I fought Volk, it was my first time fighting five rounds, in the main event, for the belt. I did not have much experience. Naturally, I was so nervous. There’s a lot of pressure.
“I forgot the most important thing in my life: enjoy the moment,”He continued. “In this time, I forget this. Now, it’s different.
“Now I only enjoy the moment. I am happy, I am smiling…nothing is new for me now. I have done many things to improve my training and my life.
“I think it is this. Look at the fight, if you look at the videos, my face is closed. I never smile. I am so hungry. Now, it is different.”
THROWBACK : Nate Diaz was fined after a major mistake during the fight week, which he had never repeated. He lost to an ex UFC champion.
…
2025-12-13 17:00:00
