TLDR
- Diego Lopes faces Charles Oliveira for the BMF title at UFC 335 on December 12 in Las Vegas
- Lopes has won seven bonuses in 10 UFC fights and promises an exciting war with Oliveira
- The Brazilian calls Oliveira the toughest matchup of his career due to his striking and submission skills
- Lopes has bulked up to 180 pounds for his move from featherweight to lightweight
- He wants to defend the BMF title against Justin Gaethje if he beats Oliveira, believing a lightweight title shot is unlikely
Sources: mmafighting.com | mmafighting.com | heavy.com
Diego Lopes will challenge Charles Oliveira for the BMF belt on December 12 at UFC 335 in Las Vegas. The fight will headline the UFC’s final numbered card of 2026.
Lopes, who has won seven bonuses in 10 UFC appearances, promised to deliver an exciting fight worthy of the BMF title. He hopes Oliveira comes in aggressive after facing criticism for his grappling-heavy performance against Max Holloway in March.
🚨 DIEGO LOPES EXPLAINS WHY THE UFC KEEPS PUTTING HIM IN BIG FIGHTS 👀🔥
🗣️ “You tell me, do you like my fights? I think that answers your question.”
🗣️ “I just go to the cage, do my job, and win or lose, I always try to put on a great fight. I think that’s the reason I have… pic.twitter.com/J6TY7hQKP2
— FightLuck (@FightluckBet) October 6, 2026
“I hope he does come in with that mindset, because that’s exactly what I want,” Lopes told MMA Fighting. “I want to get in there and throw down. Let’s see who goes down first.”
Oliveira won the BMF belt with a dominant victory over Holloway, but UFC CEO Dana White and several fighters criticized his grappling approach. Oliveira holds the record for most bonuses in UFC history.
Lopes said he feels no pressure to change his fighting style for the BMF title bout. “Even in fights I’ve lost, I’ve always looked to engage and tried to turn the fight into a real war,” he explained. “And for that to happen, you need two people.”
Toughest Challenge of Lopes’ Career
The Brazilian fighter called Oliveira the toughest matchup of his MMA career to date. He has previously faced top competition including Alexander Volkanovski, Movsar Evloev, Jean Silva, and Brian Ortega.
“I definitely think so because he’s a guy who can knock you out and submit you, too,” Lopes said. “He’s dangerous both on the bottom and on top when the fight goes to the ground, which makes him a very dangerous opponent.”
Lopes said he won’t simply survive on his back if the fight goes to the ground. “I’m really focused on improving in every area possible so I can go out there and put on a good performance,” he stated.
The path to this fight took several turns. Lopes first received an offer to fight at 155 pounds after knocking out Steve Garcia at UFC White House. The original plan was to headline UFC Paris against Dan Hooker, but that fell through when Salahdine Parnasse signed to face Hooker instead.
The UFC then considered booking Lopes against Benoit Saint Denis for UFC 344 at Madison Square Garden. After Mauricio Ruffy stepped in to fight Arman Tsarukyan in September, the UFC called with the Oliveira BMF title fight offer.
Future Plans and Gaethje Fight Interest
Lopes doesn’t expect a lightweight title shot even with a dominant win over Oliveira. Current champion Justin Gaethje will not defend his belt in 2026, and retirement rumors have circulated.
“Actually, even if I win in dominant fashion, I don’t know if I’d get a title shot,” Lopes admitted. He believes a BMF title defense against Gaethje would make more sense stylistically.
“I think that stylistically, a fight between him and me could be a convenient matchup for him,” Lopes said. “I don’t know if I’d get a title shot, but if I win this fight, I’d like to defend the BMF title — and if it’s against Justin Gaethje, even better.”
Lopes has bulked up for the lightweight division since beating Garcia in June. He currently walks around at 180 pounds, which is 15 pounds more than his normal weight two months before cutting to 145 pounds.
The fighter hasn’t ruled out a future return to featherweight. “The most important thing for me is to keep putting together a winning streak, whether that’s at lightweight or featherweight,” he said.
Lopes currently enters as the betting underdog against Oliveira. The latest odds have Oliveira as a -145 favorite, with Lopes at +125 for the comeback.
