Diego Lopes has quickly risen to prominence as a major star in the UFC. However, his MMA journey began with a deeply emotional promise to his family.
On April 12 at UFC 314, Diego Lopes is set to face Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title. This opportunity arose after Ilia Topuria surprisingly vacated the belt.
Despite this fight being unexpected, Lopes is on an impressive five-fight winning streak and has previously expressed his desire to fight Volkanovski.
Leading up to this significant fight, Lopes and Volkanovski have already met at a pre-fight press conference, where Volkanovski playfully serenaded him.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Diego Lopes` Heartbreaking Vow to His Family
Lopes made his UFC debut in 2023 on short notice, stepping in to fight Movsar Evloev.
Although he narrowly lost that fight, the Brazilian fighter has been undefeated since and secured his title shot by decisively defeating Brian Ortega at UFC 306 last September.
While Lopes` ascent to the top may seem rapid, it was far from easy.
Born in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, the 30-year-old began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at a young age. His career took a pivotal turn at 19 when he received an offer to move to Mexico to further his training.
Lopes started training at Lobo Gym in Mexico, alongside notable fighters like Francisco Grasso and former UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso.
Coming from humble beginnings, Lopes made a poignant vow to his family before moving to Mexico, which became a driving force in his career.
“I never said I wouldn`t return, but I clearly remember telling my mom and dad, and especially my siblings, as we are very close,” Lopes shared in an interview with ESPN MMA.
“I said, `I’m going there, and I only want to come back to see you when I can provide a better life for you.` And gradually, things have fallen into place. Now, I can return and offer them a better life.”
“That promise to them has been my motivation, preventing me from failing. I dropped out of school, left everything behind to chase this dream, and I couldn`t let them down,” Lopes concluded.
Alexander Volkanovski`s Shark Encounter Before UFC 314
While Diego Lopes is intensely preparing for his first UFC title opportunity, Alexander Volkanovski is no stranger to reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
During his UFC 314 fight camp, Volkanovski has been engaging in thrill-seeking activities, including swimming with sharks in Australia.
UFC fans are hoping Volkanovski`s adventurous pursuits will not cause any last-minute disruptions to the UFC 314 schedule.
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley