Diego Lopes hopes to insert his title within the dialog for a shot on the featherweight title with a win on the historic UFC 306 card on the Sphere in Las Vegas this Saturday night time, and he wouldn’t be shocked to see Max Holloway standing throughout the cage when that day comes.
Lopes faces former title challenger Brian Ortega this weekend in an try to increase his successful streak to 5 since becoming a member of the promotion, a run that features three finishes and a pair of efficiency bonuses. He desires to be sitting cageside to witness a doable change on the high of the load class at UFC 308, which matches down Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi.
Holloway, who as soon as held the 145-pound crown with wins over the legendary Jose Aldo, earned one other crack at gold with an epic knockout over Justin Gaethje for the BMF title in April. “Blessed” will problem Ilia Topuria, who dismantled Holloway’s previous nemesis Alexander Volkanovski in devastating style to seize the championship in February and enhance to 15-0 within the sport.
“This struggle may be very fascinating,” Lopes stated in an interview with MMA Preventing. “Holloway has been preventing all people within the division — and even moved up as a result of there was nobody left for him to face. This Topuria struggle might be very fascinating as a result of Topuria represents new blood within the division, a brand new man that’s knocking all people out.
“My focus is to win my struggle towards Ortega and inform my supervisor we’re going to Abu Dhabi on Oct. 26 to look at this struggle there. We’ve got that in thoughts already, however the primary focus is to win my struggle subsequent after which see what the following step is.”
Lopes has stated beforehand that he plans on beating Ortega “emphatically” to “elevate me within the rankings” and ensure a title shot “gained’t be that far”. Requested of who wins at UFC 308, the 29-year-old Brazilian stated he foresees expertise topping energy and youth. Holloway gained his previous three over Arnol Allen, Shan Sung Jung and Gaethje, and Topuria is 7-0 within the UFC towards the likes of Josh Emmett, Bryce Mitchell and Ryan Corridor.
“It’s a really shut struggle,” Lopes stated. “I lean in the direction of Holloway a bit due to his expertise. He’s been preventing many various sort of opponents within the division. He fought Volkanovski, Jose Aldo and Jeremy Stephens, brief guys which have loads of knockout energy, and nobody may [knock him out]. We’ll see what occurs, however I feel I aspect with Max Holloway a bit.”
