Diego Lopes didn’t seize the featherweight title at UFC 314 on Saturday however he’s not hanging his head in disgrace after going 5 rounds with arguably the best 145-pound fighter of all time in Alexander Volkanovski.
Lower than two years after making his octagon debut, Lopes stormed into his first fundamental occasion and gave Volkanovski every part he may deal with throughout 5 rounds. Lopes scored loads of huge pictures however finally he got here up brief on the scorecards with the judges giving Volkanovski the struggle 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 after it was throughout.
On Sunday, Lopes launched a short assertion on social media addressing his loss.
“All the time with my head held excessive, a smile on my face,” Lopes mentioned. “I fell brief final evening, I failed in just a few issues. I’ll get again to work, enhance, appropriate the errors, and transfer ahead. Thanks all in your assist. As I at all times say, “NOTHING HAPPENS.”
There was definitely no disgrace in Lopes’ efficiency after he engaged in a Combat of the Evening in opposition to Volkanovski, who made historical past as the primary fighter over 35 years of age to seize a title in a division from 155 kilos or decrease within the UFC.
Lopes did appear to get off to a little bit of a sluggish begin within the opening spherical, which is uncommon for his aggressive, action-packed model however he turned issues round within the second stanza after clipping Volkanovski with a tough punch and knocking him to the bottom briefly.
From there on out, Lopes was always battling Volkanovski for each inch contained in the cage and he landed loads of huge pictures as evidenced by the Australian’s banged up face when the struggle was over.
Nonetheless, Lopes got here up brief on the scorecards however nonetheless paid tribute to Volkanovski for a job properly completed throughout his post-fight interview within the octagon.
“It was an honor to share the octagon with a man like Alexander Volkanovski,” Lopes mentioned. “However I’ll be again. It is a man who’s so skilled within the UFC. I can see myself coming. I’m going to get higher, I’m going to come back again and I’m going to be a champion.”
