Tag: Diego Lopes

Aljamain Sterling Moves On From Movsar Evloev Matchup, Targets Different Ranked Featherweight For The Sphere

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has appeared to lose patience with the undefeated Movsar Evloev. Sterling announced his arrival in the featherweight division with a successful divisional debut at UFC 300 this past March. “Funk Master” utilized his grappling to limit all of Calvin Kattar’s offense en route to the scorecards. Since then, much […]

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Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has appeared to lose patience with the undefeated Movsar Evloev.

Sterling announced his arrival in the featherweight division with a successful divisional debut at UFC 300 this past March. “Funk Master” utilized his grappling to limit all of Calvin Kattar’s offense en route to the scorecards.

Since then, much of the discussion regarding Sterling’s sophomore outing at 145 pounds has involved Evloev, who sits three places above the ex-bantamweight at #5 in the rankings.

While the pair expressed mutual interest in the fight, they’ve since been at odds over its apparent delay, with both throwing blame at one another.

Evidently, Sterling has now had enough of that back and forth…

Sterling Adjusts Sights From Evloev To Lopes

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sterling provided an update on his future plans, as he looks to climb toward the gold at 145 pounds in pursuit of two-division glory.

With a lengthy period of discourse with Evloev not resulting in an official booking, “Funk Master” expressed frustration at the Russian’s ongoing “excuses.”

And with that, he has a fresh name in mind for his desired appearance at the Sphere for Noche UFC this fall.

“Stay tuned. Hopefully we’ll have some fight news for you guys. I’m thinking about Aljamain Sterling vs. Diego Lopes as the Sphere,” Sterling said. “That has a nice ring to it.

“Movsar, I don’t know what the hell he’s doing. I gave him a date, he hasn’t accepted yet. He started making all these excuses,” Sterling continued. “Either you want to fight on my terms or I’ll go fight somebody else. So, Diego Lopes, if you oblige, let’s make it happen at the Sphere, September 14.”

Interestingly, Evloev’s different take on why the long-discussed fight with Sterling isn’t coming to fruition has also led him to the doorstep of Lopes and a potential rematch.

Lopes is one of the fastest-rising names in the division, having followed a competitive short-notice debut against Evloev last May with four straight wins, the first three of which came in the opening round.

Most recently, the Mexico-based Brazilian defeated Dan Ige in a UFC 303 matchup that came about on just hours’ notice following the extremely late withdrawal of Brian Ortega.

While Lopes remains outside the top 10 and four places below Sterling in the featherweight pecking order, “Funk Master” seemingly wants to capitalize on the hype around the 29-year-old’s name on a major platform this September.

Continue Reading Aljamain Sterling Moves On From Movsar Evloev Matchup, Targets Different Ranked Featherweight For The Sphere at MMA News.

Aljamain Sterling offers to fight Diego Lopes in huge UFC 306 battle: ‘I want him at The Sphere’

Aljamain Sterling calls for fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 306 I want him at The SphereFormer undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling is hoping to book his sophomore featherweight clash at UFC 306 – regardless…

Aljamain Sterling calls for fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 306 I want him at The Sphere

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling is hoping to book his sophomore featherweight clash at UFC 306 – regardless if that comes against Movsar Evloev or not, as he calls out recent winner, Diego Lopes for a huge bout at the Noche event.

Sterling, a former undisputed bantamweight champion and a record-setting gold holder at 135lbs pounds, landed at number eight in the featherweight ranks off the back of his impressive victory at UFC 300.

Aljo UFC 300

Making his divisional bow in April, Uniondale native, Sterling turned in a one-sided unanimous decision triumph against perennial contender, Calvin Kattar, despite receiving criticizm from promotional officials as well as fans in attendance.

Aljamain Sterling offers to fight Diego Lopes at UFC 306

And despite remaining open to a showdown with surging Russian contender, Evloev in his next outing at the featherweight limit, Sterling has now switched his attention to Brazilian star, Lopes – who is fresh from a short-notice win over Dan Ige at UFC 303 at the end of last month.

lopes

“Movsar Evloev, I don’t know what he’s doing,” Aljamain Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “I gave him a date and he hasn’t accepted it yet, he’s been making all these excuses. Either, you fight on my terms, or I fight somebody else. So, Diego Lopes, if you oblige, let’s make it happen at The Sphere, on September 14.”

Fresh from a decision win over Ige on just four hours’ notice at UFC 303 last weekend, Lopes made his promotional bow on short-notice against the above-mentioned, Evloev, pushing him the distance over the course of three rounds in a close loss.

Aljamain Sterling rips sad champion Sean O'Malley you're not a real man my guy
Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato

In the time since, Manaus-born contender, Lopes – who currently holds the number twelve rank at the featherweight limit, has landed victories over Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, and a blistering knockout of Sodiq Yusuff to go with his win against Ige last month.

Who wins in a future featherweight showdown: Aljamain Sterling or Diego Lopes?

Aljamain Sterling offers to fight Diego Lopes in huge UFC 306 battle: ‘I want him at The Sphere’

Aljamain Sterling calls for fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 306 I want him at The SphereFormer undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling is hoping to book his sophomore featherweight clash at UFC 306 – regardless…

Aljamain Sterling calls for fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 306 I want him at The Sphere

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling is hoping to book his sophomore featherweight clash at UFC 306 – regardless if that comes against Movsar Evloev or not, as he calls out recent winner, Diego Lopes for a huge bout at the Noche event.

Sterling, a former undisputed bantamweight champion and a record-setting gold holder at 135lbs pounds, landed at number eight in the featherweight ranks off the back of his impressive victory at UFC 300.

Aljo UFC 300

Making his divisional bow in April, Uniondale native, Sterling turned in a one-sided unanimous decision triumph against perennial contender, Calvin Kattar, despite receiving criticizm from promotional officials as well as fans in attendance.

Aljamain Sterling offers to fight Diego Lopes at UFC 306

And despite remaining open to a showdown with surging Russian contender, Evloev in his next outing at the featherweight limit, Sterling has now switched his attention to Brazilian star, Lopes – who is fresh from a short-notice win over Dan Ige at UFC 303 at the end of last month.

lopes

“Movsar Evloev, I don’t know what he’s doing,” Aljamain Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “I gave him a date and he hasn’t accepted it yet, he’s been making all these excuses. Either, you fight on my terms, or I fight somebody else. So, Diego Lopes, if you oblige, let’s make it happen at The Sphere, on September 14.”

Fresh from a decision win over Ige on just four hours’ notice at UFC 303 last weekend, Lopes made his promotional bow on short-notice against the above-mentioned, Evloev, pushing him the distance over the course of three rounds in a close loss.

Aljamain Sterling rips sad champion Sean O'Malley you're not a real man my guy
Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato

In the time since, Manaus-born contender, Lopes – who currently holds the number twelve rank at the featherweight limit, has landed victories over Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, and a blistering knockout of Sodiq Yusuff to go with his win against Ige last month.

Who wins in a future featherweight showdown: Aljamain Sterling or Diego Lopes?

Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’

For his short-notice co-main event fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 303, Eric Nicksick was in Dan Ige’s corner. By coaching two former UFC champs, Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland, Nicksick has gained a ton of acclaim in MMA circles. At UFC 303, the coach had an unprecedented challenge as Ige only had four hours […]

Continue Reading Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’ at MMA News.

For his short-notice co-main event fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 303, Eric Nicksick was in Dan Ige’s corner. By coaching two former UFC champs, Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland, Nicksick has gained a ton of acclaim in MMA circles.

At UFC 303, the coach had an unprecedented challenge as Ige only had four hours to weigh in, rehydrate, and, well, also figure out his in-fight strategy. Their goal was to fight on instincts which, to be fair, worked pretty well.

Showing his durability, “50k” survived Lopes’ explosive striking and constricting ground game in the first two rounds and outstruck the Brazilian in the third. A last-minute adjustment suggested by coach Nicksick worked against him, though, and may have cost him the UFC 303 co-main event.

Eric Nicksick Looks Back At Mistake That Likely Cost Dan Ige A Round Against Diego Lopes At UFC 303

Nicksick and Ige appeared on the UFC 303 recap episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast uploaded on the DraftKings YouTube channel. Remembering the fight, Nicksick admitted that he shouldn’t have asked Ige to throw a head kick.

“To be honest with you, I’ve been having a little bit of sleepless nights because I f****d up going into round. In round two, I called for the same side head kick. Something that I thought, because no one’s ever seen Dan throw it.”

Nicksick expected the side head kick to surprise Lopes as Ige had only recently added the move to his arsenal. “50k” followed these instructions two minutes into the second round. The kick landed but also helped Lopes secure a takedown.

“It was the same side high when Dan went southpaw. And he threw it, and the shin bone landed on this dude’s head but we got taken down. And I looked over at Kai and I’m like, I just f****d us. Dude, my gut, I was like, I just f****d this man, my heart hurt.”

Despite the takedown and three minutes of control time, Ige constantly fought off his back and prevented his opponent from submitting him.

Unfortunately, due to the takedown, the round was scored by the judges for Lopes. And despite comfortably winning the third round, Ige lost a unanimous decision 29-28 on all scorecards.

Continue Reading Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’ at MMA News.

Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’

For his short-notice co-main event fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 303, Eric Nicksick was in Dan Ige’s corner. By coaching two former UFC champs, Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland, Nicksick has gained a ton of acclaim in MMA circles. At UFC 303, the coach had an unprecedented challenge as Ige only had four hours […]

Continue Reading Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’ at MMA News.

For his short-notice co-main event fight with Diego Lopes at UFC 303, Eric Nicksick was in Dan Ige’s corner. By coaching two former UFC champs, Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland, Nicksick has gained a ton of acclaim in MMA circles.

At UFC 303, the coach had an unprecedented challenge as Ige only had four hours to weigh in, rehydrate, and, well, also figure out his in-fight strategy. Their goal was to fight on instincts which, to be fair, worked pretty well.

Showing his durability, “50k” survived Lopes’ explosive striking and constricting ground game in the first two rounds and outstruck the Brazilian in the third. A last-minute adjustment suggested by coach Nicksick worked against him, though, and may have cost him the UFC 303 co-main event.

Eric Nicksick Looks Back At Mistake That Likely Cost Dan Ige A Round Against Diego Lopes At UFC 303

Nicksick and Ige appeared on the UFC 303 recap episode of the Anik & Florian Podcast uploaded on the DraftKings YouTube channel. Remembering the fight, Nicksick admitted that he shouldn’t have asked Ige to throw a head kick.

“To be honest with you, I’ve been having a little bit of sleepless nights because I f****d up going into round. In round two, I called for the same side head kick. Something that I thought, because no one’s ever seen Dan throw it.”

Nicksick expected the side head kick to surprise Lopes as Ige had only recently added the move to his arsenal. “50k” followed these instructions two minutes into the second round. The kick landed but also helped Lopes secure a takedown.

“It was the same side high when Dan went southpaw. And he threw it, and the shin bone landed on this dude’s head but we got taken down. And I looked over at Kai and I’m like, I just f****d us. Dude, my gut, I was like, I just f****d this man, my heart hurt.”

Despite the takedown and three minutes of control time, Ige constantly fought off his back and prevented his opponent from submitting him.

Unfortunately, due to the takedown, the round was scored by the judges for Lopes. And despite comfortably winning the third round, Ige lost a unanimous decision 29-28 on all scorecards.

Continue Reading Eric Nicksick Admits Last-Minute Technique Advice To Dan Ige May Have Cost Him UFC 303 Fight Against Diego Lopes: ‘My Heart Hurt…’ at MMA News.

Brian Ortega Makes First Public Statement On UFC 303 Fight Day Cancellation: ‘I Dared To Do Something Crazy…’ 

Two-time UFC featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega has broken his silence on the same-day fight cancellation that saw him not compete at T-Mobile Arena this past weekend. After a successful comeback from injury in Mexico this past February, where he avenged his 2022 setback to Yair Rodríguez by way of submission, Ortega began preparing for […]

Continue Reading Brian Ortega Makes First Public Statement On UFC 303 Fight Day Cancellation: ‘I Dared To Do Something Crazy…’  at MMA News.

Two-time UFC featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega has broken his silence on the same-day fight cancellation that saw him not compete at T-Mobile Arena this past weekend.

After a successful comeback from injury in Mexico this past February, where he avenged his 2022 setback to Yair Rodríguez by way of submission, Ortega began preparing for a divisional switch.

With opportunities limited at featherweight, “T-City” set his sights on the lightweight shark tank. But when last Saturday’s UFC 303 pay-per-view fell into crisis, Ortega agreed to be one of those saving the day, accepting an extremely late-notice co-main event against Diego Lopes.

Despite Ortega’s prep for the 155-pound weight class, the bout was set for featherweight. But that changed on weigh-in day when it was revealed that the longtime contender couldn’t get lower than 151 pounds.

While that left Lopes weighing in at lightweight having already cut down to the originally planned weight, the Mexico-based Brazilian was on the scales again just hours before making the walk after Ortega was forced to withdraw through injury and replaced by Dan Ige.

Now close to a week on, “T-City” has spoken out and addressed the difficult circumstances that led to his late pullout…

Ortega Accepted Fight 32 Pounds Above The Limit, Vows To ‘Make This Right’ By Lopes

In a lengthy statement posted on Instagram, Ortega admitted he “felt off” throughout fight week — something UFC CEO Dana White noted during his appearance at the press conference post-event on Saturday night.

The featherweight veteran also revealed that he agreed to the short-notice assignment 32 pounds over the featherweight limit, leaving many questioning why he and his team accepted a 145-pound clash.

“Come fight week I felt off and I didn’t feel right, I thought it was just the residual effects from the cut. I was 178 lb when I accepted this fight on 15 days notice,” Ortega wrote. “Thursday night after 7 straight hours, I could not break 151 lb. Later, I would find out that I was battling a fever and I could not break into the final 5 lbs as my body started to shut down. Rather than risking huge health consequences and possibly calling the fight off, thankfully we were able to move the weight to 155.

“At weigh ins, I still felt off but I was sure it would go away after I rehydrated and ate Later on that night I still felt off and was suffering from cold sweats and no sleep. Finally, I fell asleep at 6 am Saturday morning and woke up at 1 pm hoping to feel better. I could not keep any food or water down nor could I stand up to use the restroom,” Ortega continued. “I struggled with my own ego, got on a call with Tiki and Hunter, and I made the decision to call off the fight. I dared to do something crazy for the love of fighting, but I got sick and my body gave out on me.”

Ortega concluded by also making note of the tumultuous two-day period that Lopes went through, culminating in the rising featherweight facing and defeating Ige on just a few hours’ notice.

“T-City” vowed to “make things right” by the Mexico-based Brazilian.

“Diego Lopes I can only imagine what went off on your side, you have nothing but my respect and I’ll talk to Hunter and Tiki and make this right by you,” Ortega stated. “To the UFC, Dana, Hunter, and the fans, thank you for having my back.”

It remains to be seen how Ortega will do that, but perhaps accepting a rescheduled showdown with the 29-year-old at the Sphere-held Noche UFC event on September 14 could be a start.

Continue Reading Brian Ortega Makes First Public Statement On UFC 303 Fight Day Cancellation: ‘I Dared To Do Something Crazy…’  at MMA News.