Diego Lopes Named Backup for UFC 308 Title Fight

Diego Lopes has confirmed that he will serve as the official backup fighter for the UFC 308 featherweight title match between champion Ilia Topuria and former champion Max Holloway on October 26 in Abu Dhabi. Lopes recently climbed to the number three rank in the featherweight division after an impressive victory over Brian Ortega, marking his fifth consecutive win. His rise in the UFC has garnered significant fan support, and he has earned multiple performance bonuses for his high finishing rate. Meanwhile, Joanderson Brito, who previously defeated Lopes in a Contender Series match, expressed skepticism about Lopes' ability to compete with elite fighters like Holloway and Topuria, despite Lopes' current momentum. Brito is set to face William Gomis at UFC Paris and believes a rematch with Lopes may not happen soon, though he predicts it will eventually occur. Lopes' impressive performance and status as backup fighter position him as a potential title challenger after UFC 308.