Lopes Eyes Championship Glory Amid Controversy in UFC Featherweight Division

MIAMI, Florida — The UFC featherweight division is poised for a championship clash as longtime contender and Brazilian fighter Lopes prepares to vie for the title on April 12. With the title vacated by a former champion pursuing a different weight class, Lopes sees significant implications in the future of the 145-pound division depending on the outcome of his bout.

Lopes, who has only lost once since joining the UFC roster, owns a record of 19 wins with two victories coming after a short-notice decision loss in his debut. His opponent for the title has not yet been announced, but Lopes is keen to highlight the competitive landscape. Lopes remarked, “We have to be fair, and also we can’t hide what he’s done in the division. It’s nine wins [in a row]. Even though it’s all by decision, the guy is undefeated in the division.”

Among potential challengers in the title conversation is Pitbull, recognized as one of the greatest featherweights in Bellator history. After parting ways with the PFL, Pitbull is set to compete at UFC 314, where a strong performance could propel him into title contention. Lopes stated, “If he wins in good fashion, and the UFC sees it as good business, I’m sure the UFC will work and see who will be the next contender.”

Should Lopes claim the championship, he faces two distinct paths for his legacy: avenging his sole UFC loss against a rival or defeating a former champion who dominated Bellator for nearly a decade. Lopes expressed enthusiasm for either matchup, saying, “I think any of those two fights would be good fights for my history.”

Complications arose recently when former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling expressed criticism over Lopes’ title shot. Sterling, who lost to Evloev in his last match and labeled him as “more deserving” of the opportunity, has drawn the ire of Lopes. “It looks bad,” Lopes responded. “It makes absolutely no sense. The man knows what a fighter goes through to get to a title opportunity.”

Frustration further bubbled over when Sterling questioned Lopes’ reaction to his comments. Lopes replied, “The joke is that I’m fighting for the belt and they’re not taking fights. It looks bad that a man that knows what it takes for an athlete to get to this opportunity criticizes it more than a regular MMA fan.”

As the fight date approaches, Lopes is focused on securing the championship. Regardless of who stands across from him in the octagon, he is prepared to leave an indelible mark on the featherweight division.