Diego Lopes Fires Back at Critics Ahead of UFC 325: They Don’t Pay My Check
Brazilian-Mexican featherweight contender Diego Lopes remains unbothered by mounting criticism surrounding his rematch against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325 in Sydney this Saturday.
In recent days, the 31-year-old has found himself fielding constant questions about the legitimacy of his title shot, particularly from fans who believe undefeated challengers Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy deserved priority. Rather than defend his position at length, Lopes offered a straightforward response: the critics’ opinions hold no financial stake over his career.
Diego Lopes Dismisses Critics Ahead of UFC 325: They Don’t Pay My Check
“Listen, I listed this the last two months, every day people ask this question, every day comments on posts, but they doesn’t pay my check,” Lopes said during his pre-fight interviews. “You need to ask the people. I think they never happen with anything. If the UFC sends the chance to Movsar, people start questioning, ‘Oh, but this guy hasn’t fought for a year, he never finished the fight.’ Do you agree? If the UFC sends the chance to Ilia, ‘Oh, but he beat one guy outside the UFC.’ People never happen with nothing. The website sent him the chance, or he beat the number 10 guy, it’s never happened. The fans are never happy with the UFC’s decision.”
Lopes earned this rematch opportunity following a second-round knockout victory over Jean Silva at Noche UFC in September 2025. The finish came via a devastating spinning elbow followed by a barrage of undefended strikes, securing the win in just 4:48 of the second round and earning Fight of the Night honors. Before that performance, Lopes had faced Volkanovski at UFC 314 in April 2025, where he suffered a unanimous decision defeat in Miami but notably scored a knockdown in the process. His return knockout win reignited his title prospects and positioned him back into contention.
The contention around this rematch stems from the UFC’s decision to grant Lopes another opportunity rather than fast-tracking either Evloev or Murphy. Evloev, who defeated Lopes in a prior bout, has competed only once since December 2024, sitting idle for over a year. Murphy, meanwhile, has posted wins over Josh Emmett and Aaron Pico in 2025, remaining undefeated but having faced questions about facing opponents outside the UFC’s top ranks. The discourse highlights a perennial challenge for matchmakers, no choice satisfies everyone.
“Certainly, Movsar deserves his chance, Lerone deserves his chance too,” Lopes acknowledged during media availability. “Both are undefeated, and I have said that before. I had requested to fight them prior to my match with Jean, but it never happened. Honestly, it doesn’t bother me. I focus on my job. My intention was to win convincingly, through knockout, submission, or by dominating all five rounds, and to put my name forward for a title shot. That’s what I accomplished.”
The Brazilian fighter has also signaled respect for the champion’s legacy while maintaining conviction about his own progress since their April meeting. “He had the perfect game plan for the fight and was always one step ahead of me,” Lopes reflected on their first encounter. “I put a lot of pressure on myself, thinking I had to win no matter what. I forgot to enjoy the moment, and that cost me the fight.” Ahead of Saturday’s showdown at UFC 325, Lopes expects a different outcome.
