Many think the UFC is the toughest battleground in MMA, but that’s only partly true.
Although the toughest competition usually can be found in the octagon, there are many challenges and difficulties that come from fighting outside it. For Diego Lopes, who recently joined the UFC roster after a decade of fighting on the regional scene, those experiences remain very vivid.
Lopes made his UFC debut in May on the pay-per-view main card of UFC 288. He got the call to fight unbeaten ranked opponent Movsar Evloev on just three days’ notice. The Brazilian lost the fight by decision, but won a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, Dana White’s recognition, and the respect of many fans in the process.
The-28-year-old returns Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 50 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Lopes (21-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) takes on Gavin Tucker (13-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in a featherweight matchup.
Ahead of his return, MMA Junkie caught up with Lopes to reflect on his 10-year run fighting on the regional scene and the stresses and difficulties that come with it.
Getting on a winning streak, maintaining it, and risk of losing it
You have to be winning in order for the UFC to notice you, obviously. But it’s not just one win, it’s many stringed together, and in a sport as unpredictable as MMA, you may imagine how stressful it can be for a fighter to maintain momentum.
Not only are streaking fighters risking a loss on their record, but also potentially the interest in the UFC.
In 2021, Lopes was on a seven-fight wining streak and 16-1 in his past 17 bouts. This run included wins over former UFC fighters Rony Jason, Marcos Beltran, and Masio Fullen. He was that to come to an end, losing to Joanderson Brito in Dana White Contender Series and then his subsequent fight.
“It was very stressful, mainly because I was on a seven-fight wining streak, all consecutive,” Lopes said in spanish. “I was waiting for the call, and it just wouldn’t come, it wouldn’t come. When the opportunity finally came, I went from seven wins in a row to 2-2 in my last four, so I was really stressed.
“I was thinking I needed to get more wins, I needed to fight as often as possible, I need to put those two losses behind me and as far as possible. So it’s that. The stress like, ‘F*ck, I had a good wining streak going. I lost my streak. I took two losses.’ So I was really stressed with that, but I was confident that with my two consecutive wins in my last fights. I got two knockouts, and I showed that not only I can win, but finish and show that I’m complete. So it was that that got me in, plus I have a good manager. He works with us and helps us a ton.”
Lack of structure and pressure to remain active
The average UFC fighter can fight two or three times a year. Some get to do more, others less, depending on scheduling, injuries and many other factors. However, for the most part, fighters in the UFC get proper notice for fights and time to prepare for them.
That can too be the case in the regional scene, but usually fights come fast and often – something that adds a level of uncertainty.
“When you get to the UFC, you have a contract with a number of fights guaranteed,” Lopes said. “You no longer need to be in the regional circuit, thinking, ‘I need to get to the UFC. I need to fight as often as possible.’ Now you can give your body a break, take time for your mind, and have proper time to prepare for these fights and training.
“In the UFC, you have a better structure, and you can plan things better. That’s a relief. I can do things well now. I no longer fight, and then a month later fight again and be always on call for the UFC. Now, the main worry is training and keeping my body healthy, so I can make it to the fights.”
Low pay
Money makes the world go around, and that includes the fight world, after it’s called prizefighting. Although there’s been reports about the UFC sharing only 13 to 20 percent of revenue with fighters, they’re still the most lucrative promotion in the space and with the biggest resources.
Lopes has definitely felt the bump in pay from what he would otherwise be making fighting for smaller promotions. He’s thankful for everyone that helped him make a living en route to UFC, but there’s no doubt the bigger checks will come from what he does in the octagon.
Lopes also fought for many promotions in Latin America, which pay with currency that’s less valued than the dollar. Something to keep in mind, too.
“Yeah, you can’t really compare the pay of the UFC with the regional pay,” Lopes said. “And apart from the pay, I also won the bonus, which helped me a ton in my life. I swear to you. It’s changed my life 360 degrees professionally and personally, and it’s because of that.
“In my first fight in the UFC, I was able to make a good amount of money. I don’t have any debts or owe any money, so all this money is getting invested in my career. That’s a relief. I now have money to invest in my career.”
Personal goals and promises
There are overlaying factors of difficulty and stress for everyone trying to make it into the UFC, but there are also unique and personal pressures for each individual.
For Diego Lopes, he had promised his family that he would make it into the UFC, and with the money he made, he would pay for the remaining of the construction of his mom’s house in Brazil.
“Now that I’m in the UFC, I’m more relaxed and more at peace,” Lopes said. “And it’s not just because I’m in the UFC, I don’t want people to get things mixed up. I don’t want people to think that I got comfortable because I’ve arrived to UFC, no. I’m more at peace and relaxed because I was able to keep my promise I made with my mom. That was my biggest stress.
“I gave my family the promise that I was going to make it to the UFC, and I was going to help my mom finish building her house. It was that. The first thing I did after my fight was return to my city and buy all the materials needed to finish the house. That was a weight taken off my shoulders. I accomplished my goal, and now I’ve set new goals to win my fights, enter the top 15 and make a run for the title.”
