“Adversity is privilege.” Those three words from Alexander Volkanovski became iconic after he reclaimed the featherweight title at UFC 314. Coming back from a knockout is never easy, yet the Australian did it twice before toppling Diego Lopes in Miami earlier this year. That victory made him the only fighter over 35 to capture a championship at 155 pounds or below. But just five months later, Volkanovski’s historic triumph already feels overshadowed, as Diego Lopes staged an impressive redemption at Noche UFC despite entering as the underdog.

The Noche UFC card drew criticism after being downgraded from pay-per-view to a Fight Night, leaving fans with low expectations. Still, the intrigue around the main event never faded. The buzz centered on Diego Lopes and Jean Silva, and fans in San Antonio weren’t disappointed. The two delivered exactly what was promised, a fight that turned the card into a must-watch event.

Diego Lopes’ evolution takes Chael Sonnen by surprise

On his Beyond the Fight YouTube show, Chael Sonnen praised Jean Silva for becoming “must-see TV.” He said Silva wasn’t just a contender or main-event fighter but a true entertainer, pointing to the heated matchup with Bryce Mitchell as proof. “He goes out and performs, and not only does he perform, he put on a show,” Sonnen explained, admitting it made him a fan of Silva.

That said, Sonnen revealed he didn’t expect Silva to beat Diego Lopes. He even predicted against him in his DraftKings picks. According to Sonnen, fans misunderstood Lopes’ previous loss to Alexander Volkanovski. “That was not Diego Lopes that Volkanovski beat up,” he insisted, suggesting that the version of Lopes Silva faced was far more dangerous.

The fight itself played out with plenty of drama. In the first round, Silva found early success with calf kicks, but a missed spinning wheel kick gave Lopes an opening. Lopes took him down, secured his back, and opened a cut with heavy shots. Silva survived and fought back, but he couldn’t dent Lopes’ chin.

The second round saw Silva sharper on his feet, but his aggression cost him. In a chaotic exchange, Lopes landed a spinning elbow flush, sending Silva to the canvas. Lopes quickly followed up with brutal ground-and-pound, sealing the win and extending the Fighting Nerds team’s losing streak.

And that’s exactly why, Chael Sonnen explained that what fans saw was a mental hurdle for Lopes. “The real Diego Lopes stayed in the locker room” when he fought Volkanovski, he said, describing it as a common struggle when athletes first experience a dream opportunity. The difference this time was Lopes rebounded. UFC trusted him with another main event, and he delivered. “Dominick Cruz is calling these the fight of the year,” Sonnen added, underscoring how significant the performance was. However, a fellow featherweight contender disagrees, arguing that Diego Lopes’ win over Silva alone isn’t enough to justify a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski.

Why Diego Lopes may chase a new opponent instead of Volkanovski rematch 

Lerone Murphy, who spoiled Aaron Pico’s UFC debut with a knockout win, doesn’t believe Diego Lopes has done enough to earn a rematch with Alexander Volkanovski. Looking at the rankings, Jean Silva isn’t in the top five, and Murphy insists he should be next in line. “How is Aljo’s name even in the mix? I’m confused. Bro’s 2-2 in his last 4 fights. He was a good bantamweight but an average featherweight. ONLY 1 name makes sense, and that is LERONE MURPHY,” the Englishman posted on X.

Murphy then shifted his focus to Aljamain Sterling, who has also been campaigning for a title shot. He mocked Sterling’s demand by pointing to his recent setbacks and argued that the former bantamweight champion hasn’t looked the same at 145 pounds. “Diego done amazing against Silva, but not much changes in a rematch against Volk. The people want to see new matchups. I’m 17-0 for a reason. ITS MY TIME,” Murphy wrote in another tweet.

That leaves Diego Lopes with Sterling as a possible next opponent. And, the Brazilian has already said he’s willing to take another fight if that’s what the UFC wants. “If you think I need one more fight, I’ll take one more fight. So send me the next guy,” the 27-7 fighter said in his Octagon interview at UFC Noche.

Fans, however, don’t appear to be interested in a Sterling vs. Volkanovski matchup, making a clash between Sterling and Diego Lopes more likely. So who do you think deserves a date with Alexander Volkanovski next? And if Aljamain Sterling and Diego Lopes fight, who do you think will have his hand raised?