Diego Lopez impressed in his debut at UFC 288, picking up a fight with Movsar Evloev on five days notice and coming close to capitalizing on the top-ranked featherweight with armbar, kimura, and kneebar before eventually losing a decision.
Talk about MMA fighting Free exchange podcast Just days after earning a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus on top of his winnings despite losing in the contest, Lopez said he always plans to “show what we can turn off” even of late.
“I told my coaches and closest teammates that I would fight for the reward every time I fought in the UFC, no matter win or lose,” Lopez said. “My goal was to neutralize his game and not let him take over the fight and make sure to attack from below, and that’s what happened in the fight from the first round to the last. I was just happy to be there. It felt like a dream come true. I wanted to win, of course, but unfortunately it wasn’t. It is possible this time.”
Evloev had to work hard to escape multiple serves and win on the scorecards (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), and Lopez laughs that the 17-0 featherweight didn’t click “because he’s Russian.”
“We know these guys are tough, and they don’t like taps,” Lopez said with a laugh. “I had the experience of fighting Rousey in Russia in 2018 and it was the same thing. I had a locked arm and knee bar and he didn’t click. Locked. I knew there wouldn’t be easy fights in the UFC, especially against the #10 ranked guy. He wouldn’t click easily, he didn’t want to.” To lose his unbeaten record. The only thing he lacked there was that he was not Russian.”
Having lived in Guadalajara, Mexico for eight years, López plans to take a few days off to visit his family in Manaus, Brazil, before considering booking his next match. Lopez said he’s targeting an August or September card, this time with a proper training camp.
And he would love to meet Evloev again in the future.
“We did a good job against him, and that’s the idea,” Lopez said of the potential rematch. “If it’s not the title, maybe a fight before that. Let’s see what the future holds for us. We’re the same age so we can keep winning the division and I think we can meet again on the line, no problem.”