Diego Lopes Finds Peace After Tough UFC 325 Battle with Alexander Volkanovski

Diego Lopes has expressed a sense of acceptance following his recent loss to Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 325. Despite a valiant effort in their rematch for the featherweight title, Lopes was once again outmatched by the reigning champion. The fight, held in late January, saw Volkanovski secure a decisive victory.

More than a month after the bout, Lopes opened up about the defeat, stating he’s at peace with the result. “I’m good. I’m at peace with myself,” Lopes shared with Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “We had to lose one more time in another title fight, but what can you do? You have to continue with life. It’s not the end of the world.”

A Game Plan Executed, Despite the Outcome

Lopes believes he gave his absolute best and implemented the most effective game plan possible, which is why he isn’t dwelling on the loss. He feels there wasn’t much more he could have done. “I did a bit of everything,” Lopes explained. “People talked after the last fight, saying I didn’t go for takedowns. I did take him down this time, but I didn’t do anything big with it. His defense was really good. He stood up quickly and defended well the back, and the submission. ‘Oh, you didn’t kick.’ I kicked a ton – so much I destroyed my feet kicking. Unfortunately, there’s not much to say. I did more than the first fight. He was just simply better than me that night.”

Despite receiving criticism questioning his performance, Lopes remains unfazed. He recognizes Volkanovski’s elite fighting skills. “We truly made the adjustments we needed to make,” Lopes asserted. “We did a really good job. If you really focus in on the fight, and look at the stats, in terms of strikes landed, we landed the same amount. I think I even threw two more than him. It was 169 to 168. Round after round, the difference between us was a strike or two, max five strikes. In Round 5, we did the most scrambles and he took an advantage there. But the reality is that we did everything that was in reach. Simply that we just need to accept and admit that Volkanovski is an intelligent motherf*cker when it comes to fighting.”

Looking Ahead: A Potential Move to Lightweight?

Lopes acknowledges Volkanovski’s superiority and accepts the outcome with grace. “What am I going to do or what do I have to complain? He beat me twice. There’s not much to say. I just have to give him the credit. I felt we did give a more competitive fight than the first, even though some people don’t see it that way. I felt it was more competitive. I was able to take him down. I locked in a submission. I defended takedowns, submissions. I cut the angle when he was moving left. I kicked him. I did everything and it wasn’t enough. I just have to give him credit.”

With a professional record now at 27-8, Lopes is considering a potential move to the lightweight division. This could open up new opportunities and challenges for the talented fighter.

This article originally appeared on BJPENN.COM.