Diego Lopes put on a standout performance against Jean Silva last year at UFC Noche 3 main event, and now he’s back to headline another match card. This time, he takes on reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325, aiming to snag the featherweight title in their highly anticipated rematch. In their previous fight, Lopes pushed Volkanovski to the edge but came up short.

Now, on January 31 in Sydney, Diego Lopes will step into the Octagon ready to rewrite the script, applying everything he learned from their last clash. Fans know him as a fierce and relentless fighter inside the cage, yet he keeps his personal life low-key. Here’s a closer look at the featherweight star’s nationality and ethnicity.

Where is Diego Lopes from & what is his nationality?

Diego Lopes, the UFC’s #2 ranked featherweight contender, was born on December 30, 1994, in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. He discovered his passion for combat sports at an early age while growing up in Brazil. However, fans sometimes get confused about his nationality. 

At 19, Lopes left Brazil and moved to Mexico to work as a coach, where he trained and mentored youth fighters. Because of this, fans often debate his nationality, especially since his last name, “Lopes,” closely resembles “Lopez,” a common surname across several Latin American countries.

Still, Lopes maintains strong ties to both nations and credits Mexico for helping him advance his MMA career.

“I do think I represent both countries because after my first fight, I gained a lot of followers, got love from Brazil. I mean, if you think about it, my career took off in Mexico. So, basically, ever since I moved there, from 2015, so basically, it’s about 10 years. And you know, I live in Mexico. I train in Mexico. My team is Mexican. I only train with Mexicans. That’s where I live, and that’s my home. It’s who I represent. But I do feel that I have the love for both countries.”

It’s unclear whether Lopes still holds Brazilian citizenship or has taken on Mexican citizenship, but in the Octagon, he proudly represents both flags. He regularly trains at his own gym, named Brazilian Warriors, in Puebla, Mexico, and also hits the mats at Lobo Gym in Guadalajara.

What is Diego Lopes’ ethnicity?

Like UFC stars Charles Oliveira and Alex Pereira, Diego Lopes proudly represents Brazil by birth. At the same time, Brazil’s rich heritage spans immense cultural diversity and deep indigenous roots, and Lopes does not descend directly from the indigenous population.

His surname, “Lopes,” comes from Portugal, likely dating back to the period of Portuguese colonization. For example, many Brazilian families, including those with surnames like Silva, Lopes, and Oliveira, have carried these names for generations, showing that Lopes’ ancestry traces back to Portugal.

What Is Diego Lopes’ Religion?

Well, like many others, Diego Lopes has not explicitly talked about his religious beliefs in public. But we can certainly make an educated guess, going by a video on TikTok of him with hashtags like #godisgood, #jesuschrist, and #jesuslovesyou. This suggests that the #2 UFC featherweight contender has faith in the teachings of Christ. On top of that, Brazil has the biggest population of Catholics in the world, so Lopes could very well be Catholic.

While Diego Lopes is widely perceived as a devout Christian, there is no official confirmation regarding his religious beliefs. What is clear, however, is the featherweight contender’s background, roots, and upbringing. Given his Brazilian heritage, where Christianity is deeply ingrained in the culture and symbolized by landmarks like Christ the Redeemer, it would not be surprising if the Mexican-Brazilian shares those beliefs, though he has never addressed the topic publicly.

Now, the Brazilian-Mexican rising star is gearing up for another title push. Lopes is set to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight crown on January 31. Can he finally break through on his second shot at UFC gold? Drop your take below.