Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC fan favorite Diego Lopes will make the full-time move to the lightweight division after his latest win at UFC Freedom 250.

Former UFC featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes is in a bizarre spot in the 145-pound title picture after suffering two losses to current titleholder Alexander Volkanovski. Despite making a strong case for a title shot with an impressive come-from-behind knockout against Steve Garcia at the White House, Lopes would likely have to win a few fights before making the case for another shot at the belt.

Lopes, who lost back-to-back title fights to Volkanovski, has also earned recent featherweight wins over Jean Silva and Brian Ortega. But Lopes is big for the featherweight division and has teased a potential move to lightweight for months.

Amidst his peculiar spot in the featherweight division, Lopes is taking matters into his own hands and making the move to lightweight.

Diego Lopes announces full-time move to lightweight, hoping for MSG return

In a recent interview with Ag.Fight, Lopes shared an update on his return to the Octagon.

“We're taking the leap in our career now; we're going up a division, in advanced talks,†Lopes said.

“We're hoping to fight at MSG in November.â€

One potential lightweight opponent is BMF titleholder Charles Oliveira, who was rumored to fight Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 331 before pulling out of recent fight talks. Oliveira's teammate Allan Nascimento's tragic death leaves a timeline for the BMF champion's return to the Octagon unclear.

Lopes hasn't fought at lightweight in his UFC tenure, although he fought in a 165-pound catchweight bout against Dan Ige at UFC 303. He's fought as low as bantamweight during his combat sports career.

As the lightweight division continues to blossom with intriguing matchups for the rest of the year, Lopes' addition opens the door to plenty of possible bookings. We could be weeks away from getting news on Lopes' return to the cage.

Who should Diego Lopes fight next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC CEO Dana White didn't waste any time getting flyweight prospect Bilal Hasan a fight after Dana White's Contender Series.

The UFC matchmakers didn't take long to find one of the best prospects in Mixed Martial Arts some work.

Flyweight prospect Bilal Hasan knocked out Mridul Saikia in 45 seconds to secure a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Hasan moved to 9-0 in his career with eight stoppages.

Hasan entered the Octagon on Tuesday night as the biggest betting favorite in DWCS history, eclipsing alumni like Bo Nickal, Jamahal Hill, and Sean O'Malley. The former Cage Fury FC flyweight titleholder is considered a generational talent among 125-pound fighters.

Just hours after signing his UFC contract, Hasan was scheduled to make his promotional debut at UFC Shanghai against another talented flyweight.

Bilal Hasan set to fight at UFC Shanghai just days after Contender Series KO

The biggest favorite in #DWCS history only needed 45 seconds to get this one done!

Bilal Hasan is UNBELIEVABLE inside the Octagon! 😮â€ðŸ’¨

[ LIVE on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/uyiENO9ltD

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 12, 2026

As announced on Thursday, Hasan will fight Nilson Rojas (9-0) at UFC Shanghai on August 29th.

Rojas will make his UFC debut after first-round stoppage wins in four of his last five fights. He most recently defeated Gonzalo Hanampa by unanimous decision at Inka 59.

Hasan and Rojas are both welcome additions to the resurgent UFC flyweight division. Flyweight champion Joshua Van will return later this year at UFC 331 when he faces Alexandre Pantoja in a highly anticipated rematch.

Hasan is one of the few Indonesian-born fighters in UFC history, after making his professional debut in December 2022. Jeka Saragih became the first Indonesian UFC fighter in February 2023.

A bantamweight matchup between former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong headlines UFC Shanghai. Former strawweight title challenger Yan Xiaonan returns in the co-main event against Denise Gomes.

Can Bilal Hasan win a UFC flyweight title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Ian Machado Garry knows who he is fighting after UFC 330.

Garry is set to headline UFC 330 on Saturday in Philadelphia against Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title. Although the Irishman is a sizable betting underdog, he has full confidence that he will be able to dethrone Makhachev.

If he beats Makhachev, he doesn't think an immediate rematch will be next. Instead, Garry believes Carlos Prates will get the next title shot.

“Listen, I called him last week, we chatted about it but there is only one,†Garry said at media day. “There is only one person who has earned or deserves the title shot after this fight and it's Carlos Prates. All the other guys haven't done enough. Carlos Prates has earned it. Nobody else in the entire division has earned it. They all need to fight at least one more fight.

“Prates is coming off two fights against two guys that have never been finished and he did it in insane fashion. I whooped his ass for 24 minutes and I did it on three weeks' notice. So if he wants to give me three or four months [to get ready], he knows what's going to happen. He'll be able to sleep well after the next one.â€

If Garry does beat Makhachev, an immediate rematch certainly would make sense. But Garry believes Prates has earned the rematch and a title shot.

Ian Machado Garry open to Islam Makhachev rematch after UFC 330

Although Ian Machado Garry believes Carlos Prates should be next, he isn't ruling out an Islam Makhachev rematch. However, he thinks there won't be a need for a rematch after his performance on Saturday.

“I think let's focus on beating him once and then we can focus on beating twice,†Garry said. “But it all depends on the fashion. If I go out there and scalp him in two minutes, do you want to see me fight him again straight away? That's just the way it is. If we have a back and forth war like he had with Volkanovski, it probably would warrant a rematch.

“But also, there's many other challenges here that are exciting at the same time. Let's get through Saturday night, let's get the win and then we'll see in what fashion I get the victory and if there's a rematch on the cards. But I wouldn't be against it. I think he's earned enough to do it. But let's get through Saturday night first.â€

Garry enters UFC 330 with a record of 17-1 and is coming off a decision win over Belal Muhammad. It was his second straight win after he beat Prates by decision in a five-round fight.

Do you think Ian Machado Garry will beat Islam Makhachev at UFC 330?

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