UFC's Backup Plan for Diego Lopes Revealed

The UFC has confirmed that Diego Lopes will face Charles Oliveira for the BMF title later this year, a matchup that surprised many fans. Lopes had been considering a move to lightweight for some time, but the announcement still caught people off guard.

Initially, Lopes was in discussions to fight Benoit Saint-Denis if Oliveira did not accept the fight. The UFC had mentioned this potential matchup to Lopes back in July, along with other options, including Dan Hooker for a main event in Paris. However, when those plans fell through, Lopes was informed that he could fight Saint-Denis in New York if necessary.

Currently, Lopes is focusing on his career in the lightweight division after facing challenges in the featherweight category. He expressed his commitment to lightweight but remains open to returning to featherweight if an opportunity for a title shot arises.