Diego Lopes is rapidly becoming a prominent figure in the UFC Featherweight division and is definitely a fighter to watch.
Born in Manaus, deep within the Amazon rainforest, Diego Lopes has undertaken an arduous journey to reach the UFC. His martial arts journey began in childhood with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and by 17, he had already stepped into the professional MMA arena.
At the age of 19, seeking to hone his skills and establish himself in the MMA world, Lopes relocated to Mexico for training. His dedication and talent paved the way for his UFC debut in 2023, where he has quickly ascended to become a notable name in the Featherweight division.
Diego Lopes: Age and Background
Diego Lopes is currently 30 years old, born on December 30, 1994. He spent his formative years in Manaus, Brazil, a city nestled in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
Coming from a family deeply involved in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Lopes naturally followed suit. While details about his family remain scarce, it`s known that Lopes aspired to provide them with a better life when he made the move from Brazil to train in Mexico.
In Mexico, he trained at the renowned Lobo Gym, where he crossed paths with notable fighters like Francisco Grasso and former UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso.
Diego Lopes: Physical Attributes
Diego Lopes has a height of 5 feet 9 inches and competes in the UFC`s Featherweight division, which has a weight limit of 145lbs.
For his recent bout, Lopes weighed in at 146lbs, matching his opponent Brian Ortega. He boasts a reach of 72.5 inches, equivalent to 184cm.
Diego Lopes: Social Media Presence
Lopes has a significant presence on Instagram, boasting 586,000 followers as of April 2025. His posts predominantly feature training snapshots, promotions for upcoming fights, and glimpses into his life outside of training, showcasing his hobbies. His Instagram handle is diegolopesmma.
The UFC fighter is also active on X (formerly Twitter), where he engages with fans and shares aspects of his daily life. On X, he has garnered 26,100 followers and can be found under the handle DiegolopesMMA.
Diego Lopes: MMA Record
| WLD | (T)KO | SUB |
|---|---|---|
| 26-6-0 | 10-2 | 11-0 |
Diego Lopes: MMA Stats
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Significant Strikes Landed per Minute | 4.20 |
| Significant Striking Accuracy | 54% |
| Significant Strikes Absorbed per Minute | 4.11 |
| Significant Strike Defense | 51% |
| Average Takedowns Landed per 15 minutes | 0.50 |
| Takedown Accuracy | 40% |
| Takedown Defense | 53% |
| Average Submissions Attempted per 15 minutes | 2.76 |
Diego Lopes: Net Worth
With 6 UFC fights and only one loss, Diego Lopes is building a lucrative career.
Reports suggest Lopes earned $304,000 for his victory over Dan Ige at UFC 303. It`s reasonable to assume a similar or higher payout for his win against Ortega at UFC 306.
However, concrete data regarding Lopes’ total net worth remains limited and reported figures can vary considerably.
Diego Lopes: Next Fight
Diego Lopes is set to face former champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 314 for the UFC Featherweight Championship.
After Ilia Topuria vacated the Featherweight title, Lopes and Volkanovski will now compete for the vacant belt in Miami on April 12.
A win would secure Lopes` first UFC title at the age of 30.
Diego Lopes: Walk-out Song
Known for his unpredictable walk-out music, Lopes often keeps fans guessing about his song choice.
In his recent victory over Brian Ortega at UFC 306, Lopes entered the arena to the popular Mexican song “La Chona” by Los Tucanes de Tijuana.
Diego Lopes vs. Movsar Evloev
Lopes` UFC debut against Movsar Evloev was remarkable, especially considering he stepped in on just five days` notice as a replacement for Bryce Mitchell at UFC 288.
Despite the short preparation time, Lopes started aggressively, landing significant strikes against Evloev, who was a #10 contender at the time.
While fatigue became a factor, Lopes showcased his grappling skills by locking in a Kimura, nearly forcing Evloev to tap out. Ultimately, Evloev won by unanimous decision, but Lopes` debut performance was highly impressive.
Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega
One of the most significant victories in Lopes` career was against Brian Ortega at UFC 306.
Lopes maintained control throughout the fight, securing a unanimous decision victory in his most prominent UFC fight to date.
This fight marked Ortega’s final Featherweight bout before moving to Lightweight, concluding his time in the division with a defeat to Lopes. Lopes dominated the fight, dropping Ortega early in the first round and maintaining control for the duration.
