Diego Lopes is not shy about how he sees the fight in Sydney playing out.
The 31-year-old Brazilian is gearing up for his second shot at the UFC featherweight title, less than a year after coming up short in Miami.
Lopes lost to Alexander Volkanovski, who became a two-time champion at UFC 314. However, just one bounce-back win put the Brazilian star back into a title fight.
With a few weeks to go before his rematch with ‘The Great’ at UFC 325 in Australia, Lopes has already delivered an early message to fans Down Under – and it was not exactly what they wanted to hear.
Diego Lopes apologises to Australia before UFC 325 fight with Alexander Volkanovski
After addressing the backlash from UFC fans over his second title opportunity, Lopes is now fully focused on his upcoming fight in Sydney, set for January 31.
The Brazilian contender did not win a round on the cards, but he did have some moments in the first fight against Volkanovski.
Lopes even managed to knock down the featherweight great, and this time around, he believes he can finish what he started.
“I’m sorry guys, but this is my plan. This is my plan for coming here to Australia and taking the belt. This is my dream and this is my whole life,” he stated to Fox Sports Australia.
Lopes continued: “I’ve been working for this for a long time and now I feel like I have the experience for taking the belt. The knockout is coming.”
Dana White responds to criticism of Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2
There has been a noticeable pushback from fans over Lopes being given another title shot, especially after how decisive the first bout was in Miami.
Plenty were expecting to see Lerone Murphy or Movsar Evloev step up next, but it is Lopes who gets the opportunity again.
Dana White, for his part, is not concerned about the reaction.
“If you don’t like it, don’t watch it,” White told Complex.
“It was just the fight that made sense. We get in that (War) Room and we start putting s— together.
“It should be a good fight.”
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