Fans missed out on a middle-of-the-cage shootout between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway. However, Diego Lopes promises that wouldn’t be the case if he were to get a crack at the champion.
Last month at UFC 308, Topuria pointed to the middle of the cage, inviting Holloway to brawl during their UFC featherweight championship fight in Abu Dhabi. Holloway, who’s made the point-and-brawl move notorious in the UFC, opted out from the exchange with the heavy-handed Topuria.
Unlike Holloway, Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) says that’s an invitation he’d welcome with mo problem.
“Definitely, definitely, definitely,” Lopes told MMA Junkie in Spanish when asked if he’d throw down with Topuria. “I’m telling you, I respect everyone, but I’m not afraid of anyone. If there’s anything I don’t have, it’s fear. I think I’ve shown that in all my fights. I’ve shown that I’m not afraid of anyone.
“As many times as he wants to point to the ground, I will plant my feet in the middle of the cage and throw down. It’s that easy.”
Unfortunately for Holloway, although he opted out from the brawl with Topuria, after a couple of close rounds, he was eventually was knocked out. It was Holloway’s first knockout loss in his lengthy and tested MMA career.
Although hungry to get a shot at the belt, Lopes admits it was hard to see Holloway’s legendary chin get cracked for the first time.
“I think everyone felt it,” Lopes said. “As a fan, removing myself the fighter, like a fan, I think it hurt all of us to see Max Holloway in that situation. Imagine, I think all MMA fans have been now watching Holloway for years and we’ve never seen him in a situation like this. We never imagined this would happen, and when it did, it was a big surprise. But credit to Topuria, he did a great job. He did what he said he was going to do. He kept his promise.”
Lopes, who’s ranked No. 3 in the UFC official featherweight rankings, is riding a five-fight winning streak with his most recent victory coming by way of decision over former UFC title challenger Brian Ortega. Lopes has expressed interest speaking with MMA Junkie in being the next challenger for Topuria or a title eliminator bout against Alexander Volkanovski.