Diego Lopes very likely blasted his way into the rankings by taking out featherweight contender Sodiq Yusuff in eighty-nine seconds at UFC 300 on Saturday.
Number thirteen ranked Yusuff represented a tougher challenge than Lopes’ two UFC wins, but the Brazilian who fights out of Mexico made it look easy, taking home a big scrap to Team Lobo.
In the first round Sodiq hit the canvas twice. The first time he ate an uppercut in the clinch but got right back up and kept fighting while hurt. The second time he lay halfway face-down and only got up when the ref pulled Diego Lopes off him.
The biggest win of Diego Lopes’ career will very likely catapult him into the top-15 of the featherweight division. In his post-fight interview he called to fight either Ilia Topuria or Movsar Evloev, again, in Spain. Lopes lost a decision to Evloev in his UFC debut, but took the bout on extremely short.
Lopes will also likely be in the running for a bonus at the milestone event. Per UFC CEO Dana White, all post-fight bonuses on Saturday will be a whopping $300,000 USD, in honor of the anniversary card.
Official Result: Diego Lopes def. Sodiq Yusuff by TKO (punches), Round 1, 1:29
