Diego Lopes reveals UFC discussed 2 other lightweight fights before Charles Oliveira

Diego Lopes is still a hot commodity despite his recent UFC title fight losses.

During the UFC 332 broadcast this past Saturday, the promotion announced that Lopes is set to move up to the lightweight division to headline the year's final numbered UFC event — UFC 335 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas — and challenge Charles Oliveira for the ceremonial BMF title. Speaking Tuesday on "The Ariel Helwani Show," Lopes, who has fought primarily as a featherweight in the UFC, explained why now was the time to move up in weight.

"Now I think I'm in the steadiest position for a move to 155 [pounds], because I lost two times to [Alexander Volkanovski]," Lopes told Uncrowned. "I won my last fight at 145. We don't have a lot of options at 145 now, and I wanted to make the move for fun fights at 155.

"It depends [whether I'll go back down]. I'm going to feel my body, my power, my strength, and conditioning at 155. After this fight, we're going to check if I can [stay or go back]. Now, my weight is still good. I can come down for 145 if the UFC needs in the future."

Lopes, 31, said he's talked with his team about moving up in weight classes for a long time. And while he's fought as low as bantamweight in the pre-UFC years of his career, Lopes has somehow awkwardly avoided coming into a fight right at 155 pounds, having had previous catchweight bouts at both 150 and 165 pounds.

Two months out from UFC 335, Lopes said he's around 175 pounds and believes he's a perfect stylistic fit for a BMF title fight. That, however, wasn't his only fight option.

"My first option when I talked to UFC was to take the main event with Dan Hooker in Paris, but UFC signed the French guy [Salahdine Parnasse], and I didn't take this fight," Lopes said. "They said Charles Oliveira. If it's not possible, maybe 'BSD' (Benoit Saint Denis) in New York. So UFC did the fight with Oliveira, and I'm happy with this fight."

It's been all gas and no brakes for Lopes since he arrived in the UFC in May 2023. Lopes' most recent win — a second-round knockout of Steve Garcia at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House — was his 10th fight in the promotion.

Coincidentally, Lopes' departure from 145 pounds comes ahead of the next title fight between the only two fighters he's lost to in the promotion: UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and top-ranked contender Movsar Evloev, who meet on Oct. 24 at UFC 333.

Lopes believes he'll be in a great spot regardless of the winner of Volkanovski vs. Evloev, but he knows he has his hands full with Oliveira first.

"If 'Volk' wins, it's good for me. If Movsar wins, it's good for me too, because I lost to both guys. So I don't care," Lopes said. "But I hope 'Volk' can take this fight and can finish his career very well. He's a legend of the sport and maybe one of the top three, top five guys of all time.

"He's one of the best in the world and deserves to finish his career very well."