Diego Lopes devastatingly came up short at UFC 314 on Saturday as Alexander Volkanovski bucked the trend for fighters 35 years old and older in UFC title fights.
Coming into the biggest fight of his career thus far, Diego Lopes was carrying the hopes of Mexico on his back, looking to win the UFC featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski.
Ahead of his UFC 314 main event, Lopes broke down in tears after being sent a motivational video by several members of his family, whom he left in Mexico at the beginning of his MMA journey.
Unfortunately for the soaring featherweight, though, Volkanovski put on a vintage performance, bouncing back from back-to-back KO losses to reclaim his 145lb strap.
Diego Lopes breaks his silence following loss to Volkanovski
Just hours removed from his loss to the 36-year-old Australian, Lopes took to social media to break his silence, offering his first words.
“Always with my head held high, a smile on my face. I fell short last night, I failed in a few things,” Lopes began his statement.
“I’ll get back to work, improve, correct my mistakes, and move forward. Thank you all for your support. As I always say, ‘NOTHING HAPPENS,’” he continued.
This marks the Brazilian’s first loss in the promotion since his debut fight against Movsar Evloev as he went on an impressive five-fight win streak to earn his title shot.
What’s next for Diego Lopes following UFC 314 loss?
Ahead of his clash with Volkanovski, fellow UFC 314 star Yair Rodriguez had some choice words for Lopes, stating that it annoyed him that Lopes represents Mexico.
The two then clashed at the pre-fight press conference, and security had to intervene and step in between the two of them as they came face to face.
It unfolded that Lopes previously submitted Rodriguez’s teammate in his early days, which is somewhat what sparked the feud.
Rodriguez went on to pick up an impressive victory against promotional newcomer Patricio Pitbull, which puts him closer to a second shot at the title.
With ‘El Pantera’ likely needing another win before he fights for the title, a grudge match between the two would make perfect sense, and it has been labeled as ‘a perfect fight’ by Joe Rogan.
