SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 13: (L-R) Diego Lopes of Brazil punches Jean Silva of Brazil in a featherweight fight during the Noche UFC event at Frost Bank Center on September 13, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Diego Lopes was never supposed to be a UFC star. Four years ago, Lopes lost to Joanderson Brito on Dana White’s Contenders Series due to an eye poke, rendering Diego unable to continue. He lost his next fight to Nathaniel Richardson under the Fury FC banner. Flashforward to 2025, and Diego Lopes is one of the biggest stars in the UFC, while Richardson and Brito are journeyman MMA fighters. Lopes’s meteoric rise came following a short-notice debut against Mosvar Evloev, where he exceeded expectations against a top-ranked opponent on only five days’ notice. Following his debut, Lopes went on a five-fight win streak, with three finishes and two performance of the night bonuses in only thirteen months.

Lopes’s aggressive fighting style and his high level of activity instantly made him a fan favorite. His popularity afforded him the opportunity to fight in the Co-Main event of UFC 303’s International Fight Week, compete at the UFC’s marquee event at the Sphere, and challenge for the UFC title in a span of just 10 months. Lopes’s harshest critics have spoken out about the favoritism he’s received from the UFC, as the UFC gave him a title shot before Mosvar Evloev, who could be perceived as more deserving, as he defeated Lopes two years ago. 

Nonetheless, those critics have been silenced following Diego Lopes’s victory over Jean Silva at UFC Noche. Heading into the fight, Silva had five UFC victories and five finishes in less than two years. Silva, being one of the UFC’s fastest rising contenders, was a -245 favorite, but Lopes had other plans.

The fight went as I expected. It was a car-crash type of fight with two ultra-aggressive fighters with similar levels of skill. The only separation was Lopes’s superior size and strength. In round 1, Lopes dominated Silva, out striking his opponent 58-10 while also generating two minutes of control time. In round two, Silva fought back with a vengeance, landing several big shots on Lopes, wobbling the former title challenger in a couple of instances. 

“Diego was staying in the pocket, right in firing range but not firing, which surprised me, but yeah, I guess he can always just rely on that chin,” UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski analyzed following the fight. 

In the final moments of round 2, it appeared Silva would secure the round, but he got overzealous and leaned right into a spinning elbow from Diego Lopes. From there, it was all over, and Lopes secured one of the most brutal and violent finishes in UFC history. The way Lopes dismantled and dominated an opponent who, until UFC Noche, dominated his five-fight run in the UFC was extremely impressive and solidified him as a bona fide UFC star. 

“Diego Lopes is the real deal, man. We always knew he was good but tonight showed that he is on a different level than most guys.” UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier stated on his YouTube channel post-fight. 

Following a victory of such high magnitude, Lopes has reentered the featherweight title picture and is conceivably one or two more wins away from earning another shot at the featherweight title. A long-awaited fight with Aljamain Sterling and a highly anticipated grudge match with Yair Rodriguez are both on the table. Personally, I think Lopes vs. Rodriguez is the fight to make, as it appeals to a broader audience. Regardless of what comes next for Diego Lopes, it will be must-watch TV as he continues to transform his career from a journeyman MMA fighter into one of the sport’s most exciting stars.