Diego Lopes defeated three former UFC hunters on their way to becoming one himself. The second? Marco Beltran – teammate of former interim champion Yair Rodriguez.
An unexpected rivalry came from the UFC 314 press conference, not barking by Jean Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell, but between Rodriguez and Lopes who fight other opponents on Saturday.
Diego Lopes, who represents both Brazil and Mexico, is set to challenge the empty belt of featherweight against Alexander Volkanovski with Yair Rodriguez on his undercard. The Chihuahua-Nativeive welcomes the former Bellator Two-Division champion Patricio Pitbull in the Octagon.
Things that were warmed up in the press on Thursday when they were asked for a potential title fight at Nouch UFC 3 in Guadalajara, in September. Lopes brought Rodriguez's two -way losing skid up, while 'El Pantera' took revenge and Lopes called a 'p ****' because he reportedly said his old friend and teammate Marco Beltran Sprong.
The two hunters were stopped by the security as they argued in Spanish. Rodriguez said that the Lopes team was involved.
Rodriguez who refers to an incident that took place outside the cage, defeated Lopes Beltran Fair and square in a Mexican title fight a few years ago.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
When does Diego Lopes fight Yair Rodriguez's teammate Marco Beltran?
It was November 29, 2019, Monterrey, Mexico – Lopes was two fights away from the appearance on Dana White's Contender Series (he lost) and six fights of a UFC contract.
At the time, he was the featherweight champion of Lux Fight League, a top MMA promotion in Mexico. The 24-year-old from Manaus, Brazil, had made it big there not 'UFC-Big', but great.
Lopes went five rounds to win the title and now he would defend it against Beltran, a six-time UFC veteran and former participant in 'The Ultimate Fighter Latin America'. Beltran by Michoacán handed Chito Vera his first UFC loss and fought against a 11-0 DEIVESON Figueiredo in Brazil.
Dubbed “The First Super-Fight 'in the history of Mexican promotion, Lopes would not need the full five rounds and the teammate of Yair Rodriguez ended in the first minutes.
Lopes crashed Beltran with a double jab and closed the distance with hooks before he secured a double legs on Beltran. The chain attack was similar to how Alexander Volkanovski Rodriguez dropped for the TKO finish on UFC 290.
Diego Lopes Rolled Beautiful in Kneebar for entry victory
After two and a half minutes top control, Beltran tried for a guillotine, but Lopes escaped easily and landed land and pounds.
Lopes hit Beltran with his right hand and grabbed one from Beltran's legs and scooped it up for an attempt of the heel.
Beltran tried to climb out with Lopes who skillfully switched to a knee bar. Within two seconds, Beltran was forced to tap right in front of his corner.
Lopes remained the luxury featherweight champion and his dreams also to make it in the UFC.
Six years later, a 30-year-old Diego Lopes-eyes at the World Championship this weekend and a title defense at NOCHE UFC in September.
Will it be Yair Rodriguez with whom he is confronted? Lopes said that one win was not enough for the Mexican at the press, but that all depends on how UFC 314 unfolds on Saturday.
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