We’ve seen the back and forth on social media between UFC featherweights Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev. Both are searching for a path to a title shot, but Lopes is clearly in the lead in that race.
Lopes (26-6) is coming off the biggest victory of his career at Noche UFC, UFC 306, where he defeated Brian Ortega via decision. The win has pushed him into the #3 spot in the rankings.
That victory also put a potential rematch with Evloev further and further into the rearview mirror.
“The only possibility this fight happens is if the UFC really says, ‘OK, you fight him and win, and you’re next for the belt. That’s the only way this fight happens at the moment, and I want a full camp,” Lopes told MMAFighting.
Evloev (18-0) was supposed to fight former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 307 in October. An injury to Sterling scrapped that bout and Evloev put the call out challenging Lopes to fight on the card on short notice.
“It’s very easy for him to call me out knowing I just fought two weeks ago. I’ve been calling him out several times to fight with a full camp, and he never wanted it,” Lopes said.
“The possibility of me accepting this fight now or fight him on short notice is zero.”
Lopes told MMAFighting his plan is to be the backup fighter for the upcoming bout between champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway at UFC 308.
