LAS VEGAS – Many assumed it, however now we all know Diego Lopes’s mentality and method in the direction of a UFC title shot.
Not like many fighters, Lopes (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) says he’s not the sort to take a seat and wait all whereas campaigning for a title shot if victorious this Saturday in opposition to Brian Ortega within the co-main occasion of UFC 303, which works down at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.
Though there’s a case to be made for a title shot if Lopes have been to get his hand raised this weekend, the Brazilian desires to combat typically, whether or not a belt is on the road or not.
“If Max (Holloway) vs. Ilia (Topuria) will get booked, I don’t need to sit and wait,” Lopes instructed reporters by means of an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC 303 media day. “I might speak to the UFC and get them to ebook me in opposition to whoever desires to combat.”
There’s been hypothesis of a possible featherweight title combat between champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway for later this summer season. Though nothing is official, it appears to be like like a possible end result at 145 kilos.
If the combat have been to go down, Lopes sees it as a really aggressive affair, however he has to aspect with “Blessed.”
“It’s a really fascinating combat,” Lopes defined. “We all know that Ilia is younger, and he goes ahead and has numerous knockout energy. Nevertheless, Max has proven to have the perfect chin within the UFC. He’s by no means been knocked out. He’s by no means been knocked down – effectively, I don’t know if the combat in opposition to (Justin) Gaethje counted as a knockdown.
“I believe Max has numerous expertise with each sort of fighter. He did have slightly problem combating somebody shorter like Volkanovski, however we’ve additionally seen Ilia have points with a lot taller fighters, like that combat the place he was knocked down. I believe this combat may be very fascinating, however I lean slightly bit extra on Max’s aspect.”
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