Jose Aldo's heir? Diego Lopes could end a nearly eight-year drought and return the featherweight belt to Brazil at UFC 314

Diego lopes fight in UFC 314. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/UFC

Almost eight years later José Aldo losing the featherweight title (up to 65,7 kg), Brazil has the chance to regain the UFC's most symbolic belt. This Saturday (12), Diego lopes, a 30-year-old Amazonian living in Mexico, faces the former champion Alexander Volkanovsky in the main fight of UFC 314, in Miami, for the vacant title in the category.

The opportunity comes after the meteoric rise of the Brazilian, who has accumulated five consecutive victories in the Ultimate, three of them by submission or knockout in the first round.

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If you win, Diego lopes will become the first Brazilian featherweight champion since Aldo, who reigned from 2011 to 2015, in addition to a brief top spot in 2017. The connection between the two goes beyond nationality: both were born in Amazonas and built legacies based on solid foundations in jiu-jitsu.

Born in Manaus in 1994, Lopes started jiu-jitsu at the age of five, influenced by his father, Elias Freitas. At 17, he switched to MMA and, in 2015, he accepted an invitation to teach martial arts in Mexico, where he put down roots.

His debut in the Ultimate, in May 2023, was emblematic: he replaced Bryce mitchell with five days to spare to face the undefeated Movsar Evloev. Since then, Lopes has not known another defeat.

Diego Lopes vs Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 314

In less than two years, he has accumulated triumphs over Gavin tucker (first round submission), pat sabatini (knockout), Sodiq Yusuf (technical knockout) and Brian ortega (unanimous decision), the latter considered the peak of his career up to that point.

On the other side of the Octagon, Volkanovski is looking to reclaim the position he held for five years (2019-2024), a period in which he defended the title five times. The Australian, however, arrives weakened: he has suffered three defeats in his last four fights, including two consecutive knockouts.

O UFC 314 takes place at the Kaseya Center, with exclusive transmission by UFC Fight Pass. In addition to the title fight, the card features the debut of Patrick Pitbull in the UFC, against Yair Rodriguez, and the dispute between Virna jandiroba e yan xiaonan, which could define the next strawweight challenger.