Diego Lopes eyes perfect matchup with Yair Rodríguez for San Antonio card

Diego Lopes, who most recently locked horns with Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant UFC featherweight strap at UFC 314 and lost via unanimous decision, now has former interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodríguez in his crosshairs.

Lopes and Rodríguez had a heated exchange during the UFC 314 pre-fight presser, and now the Brazilian hopes to settle his feud with 'El Pantera' later this year at UFC Noche in San Antonio, Texas, United States.

In an interview with Real MMA Today, Lopes expressed interest in facing Rodríguez on September 13. He said:

"If we're talking about matching up fights, since the UFC Mexico event changed from a pay-per-view to a Fight Night in San Antonio, I'm available for that date to face Jair Rodriguez. I think it's a fight many want to see, but we'll have to see if he'll accept and what happens from there."

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Lopes added:

"We'll just have to wait and see. If UFC wants me to fight in September, I'd prefer to face Yair. Everyone knows I don't turn down fights. Whatever they want, they know where to find me. I live like 10 minutes away from the UFC offices here in Vegas. I can go there, talk to them, and we'll sort it out on the spot."

Check out Diego Lopes' comments below:

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Yair Rodríguez is rumored to face Alexander Volkanovski and not Diego Lopes

With Alexander Volkanovski reclaiming the 145-pound throne again after defeating Diego Lopes earlier this year, the Aussie is now eager to defend his belt for the first time in his second reign.

Volkanovski recently revealed that his next fight will not be against the undefeated Movsar Evloev. However, there could be a title fight rematch between 'The Great' and Yair Rodríguez. Volkanovski first locked horns with Rodríguez in 2023 and won via third-round TKO.

The two-time UFC featherweight champion had this to say to Fox Sports about his next opponent.

"Yair's name has popped up. No dates are set right now. I think it's just a lot of moving parts through all of the divisions. I think there's a lot happening right now and we'll see what comes up... The rumors you are hearing are pretty much true, but nothing is locked in."

Check out Alexander Volkanovski's comments below:

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Edited by Subham