Diego Lopes knows how to turn the tables in the rematch.
The Mexican featherweight star will have his chance for revenge against Alexander Volkanovski in the second UFC main event to be broadcast on Paramount+ in 2026.
Much to the frustration of fans, Lopes has been given the Volkanovski rematch at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia, ahead of undefeated contenders Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, whom the champion is yet to face.
Volkanovski beat Lopes at UFC 314 last April, putting on a vintage display to begin his second stint on the throne 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.
Diego Lopes says forgetting to have fun contributed to his failed UFC title shot
The title shot earlier this year marked a number of firsts for Lopes, which the Mexican believes resulted in him forgetting a key aspect of fighting.
Lopes stressed the importance of having fun and enjoying his fights during an appearance on Submission Radio, something he unintentionally abandoned when he entered the cage for his maiden championship opportunity.
“I learned a lot,” Lopes said of the UFC 314 loss.
“When I fought Volk, it was my first time fighting five rounds, in the main event, for the belt. I (did) not have a lot of experience in this. Of course, 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 fixed many things in my training camp, many things in my life too.
“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.”
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Diego Lopes dropped Alexander Volkanovski in their first fight. Can he do it again at UFC 325? 💥
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Diego Lopes is one stop on Alexander Volkanovski’s journey back to the UFC lightweight title
Volkanovski is seemingly at the back end of his career, and many have even been pondering whether a retirement could be on the cards after the Australian returns on home soil next February.
The featherweight champ himself, however, still has goals to achieve.
Despite two failed bids at securing two-division glory thus far, Volkanovski hasn’t given up hope of becoming lightweight champion and believes two successful title defenses in 2026 will earn him another shot.
“I know I’ve got guys in my division and I don’t want to hold up the division, so I’m gonna do what I need to do,” Volkanovski told 10 News.
“Then, you never know. Maybe after what I’ve said I plan on doing in Sydney, February 1, go do that and then maybe have the turnaround and then get another victory over an undefeated guy.
“Maybe (after) that, I think that’s fair enough to be calling for maybe a champ-champ fight then,” he added.
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