The UFC Noche card came under fans’ scrutiny when it was downgraded from a coveted PPV to a Fight Night card. Honestly, fans didn’t expect much from the event. But the intrigue around the main event remained intact. Why? Well, because people were sure that Diego Lopes and Jean Silva would deliver a show for the San Antonio crowd. And without a doubt, it delivered on all fronts!

In the first round, Silva found success with calf kicks. But a missed spinning wheel kick that caused trouble, where the Fighting Nerds star trooper was quickly taken down by Lopes who ended up taking Silva’s back. The former 145-lb title challenger then landed some critical blows that opened a cut on Silva’s head. However, ‘Lord’ managed to weather those three minutes, got back on his feet, and started firing back. But he couldn’t crack Lopes’ granite chin.

In the second round, Silva looked sharp on his feet! But he got a little too carried away in the pocket. In a wild exchange of strikes, Lopes connected with a spinning elbow right on the money! Sending the São Paulo native crashing to the canvas. That moment marked the beginning of the end. Diego unleashed vicious ground-and-pound to hand the Fighting Nerds their fourth straight loss. Now the big question: Does Lopes get a title shot against Alexander Volkanovski after this amazing performance? Let’s find out! 

Does Diego Lopes deserve a rematch against Volkanovski?  

At UFC 314, all eyes were on ‘The Great’ to find out whether he could bounce back after suffering back-to-back devastating knockouts against Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria. The intrigue grew even stronger when Diego Lopes was announced as his opponent, since the Brazilian had the power and skill to knock the featherweight king out at any moment. Honestly, there were a few moments when he came really close to putting away the Australian two-time featherweight champion.

Although Lopes was knocked down and punished hard by Volkanovski in the early rounds, he managed to pick up the pace in the fourth and fifth rounds to put the Aussie on skates. Lopes especially found success with sharp combinations inside the pocket, including a clean one-two that dropped Volkanovski at one point. Had he pressed the accelerator earlier, we might have heard Bruce Buffer screaming his name as the new featherweight champion. But, well, it didn’t happen. Still, the question remains – could a few key adjustments be enough to bring that moment for him in the future?

And that’s exactly what tonight’s performance showed us – it’s made the possibility of a rematch even stronger. Lopes proved he could handle a dangerous puncher like Jean Silva and passed the test with flying colors. More importantly, he showed immense growth in his mentality by exercising restraint and not rushing for the finish. He stayed patient, waited for the opening, and capitalized when the moment presented itself. And who knows? This version of the Brazilian might just be the one to finally defeat Volkanovski in a rematch.

Still, if for some reason Lopes doesn’t get the reigning featherweight champ next after his UFC Noche win, he could very well be just one victory away from earning that championship opportunity. And honestly, there are plenty of tasty matchups waiting in the top six, with contenders who’d be more than happy to welcome him into a scrap! 

Two other great fights for the UFC Noche main event winner

If we look at the current featherweight rankings, there are two exciting fights Diego Lopes could take next. First up, Aljamain Sterling makes a strong case to be his opponent in a title eliminator. The ‘Funkmaster’ is fresh off a big win against Brian Ortega at the UFC Shanghai co-main event, and the two have never shared the cage before. For both of them, this matchup makes a lot of sense!

Sterling is not only a former bantamweight champion but also a proven legend of the sport. Facing him would give the 30-year-old Lopes a chance to test himself against a high-level opponent with the grappling skills to truly challenge him. Plus, both fighters have the star power to headline a co-main event at a year-end PPV or even early next year when the UFC transitions into the new Paramount+ CBS era. But if that fight doesn’t materialize, there’s another captivating option.

Enter the number-three-ranked featherweight, Yair Rodriguez! Yes, the ultimate grudge match fans have been waiting for. Lopes and Rodriguez nearly stole the spotlight with their heated verbal exchange at the UFC 314 presser, which got deeply personal. It would sting to see fans robbed of such a spectacle. True, ‘El Pantera’ has made it clear he only wants a title shot next. But given he’s 1–2 in his last three fights, Rodriguez needs another big win before seriously re-entering the title picture.

On top of that, Lerone Murphy’s stunning first-round knockout over Aaron Pico has already caught Alexander Volkanovski’s attention. So, the UFC might be leaning toward that fresh matchup rather than booking an immediate rematch. Meanwhile, Lopes can target either Sterling or Rodriguez to further solidify his position instead of simply waiting around for a title opportunity.

With that being said, what do you think Diego Lopes should do after his UFC Noche headliner win? Is he truly next in line for the title shot? Or does he need one more big fight? Let us know in the comments!