‘He’ll have to make a decision’: Diego Lopes’ retirement threat for Alex Volkanovski

Brazilian rising star Diego Lopes had a couple of wake up calls for Alex Volkanovski ahead of their UFC featherweight world title fight.

Rising tyro Diego Lopes has threatened to end Alex Volkanovski’s career, saying the Aussie hero will have to make a decision on whether to keep fighting after their UFC 314 main event in Miami this weekend.

One of the UFC’s hottest rising stars, Lopes is riding an impressive five-fight win streak, while ‘Volk’ is coming off back-to-back losses, and hasn’t fought since February 2024.

UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes | SUN 13 APRIL | Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski looks to become a two-time World Champion as he takes on Brazil’s Diego Lopes for the vacant Undisputed Featherweight title, in Miami | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes face off before UFC 314. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Another defeat would leave the 36-year-old former featherweight champion with an uncertain future in the UFC.

And Lopes says retirement is a very real possibility.

“Both of us want this really badly, and he has tasted being a champion, he knows what it’s like and he wants to have it again,” Lopes told Code Sports. “And me? Listen, I’m very hungry, and I want to get what he had.

“To do that, I need to go through him, and I’m prepared to do that.

“I’m just focused on winning and he’s gonna have to make a decision about fighting after a loss like this.”

Volkanovski fights to save his career this weekend. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Lopes wasn’t done with the Volkanovski wake-up calls there, rubbishing Volk’s status as the greatest featherweight of all time.

It’s a three-way race to be named the best 145-pound fighter ever, with Volkanovski, Jose Aldo and Max Holloway all in the mix.

Ilia Topuria might have made it before his move to lightweight.

The fact that Volkanovski beat Aldo and has three wins over Holloway – who in turn beat Aldo twice – surely puts the Aussie at the top of the pile.

Volkanovski has beaten Holloway three time. Picture: Alejandro Salazar/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Not so, according to Lopes.

“People have this fact wrong, and the guy who has the most sustained championship run isn’t Volkanovski, it isn’t Max Holloway or Ilia Topuria,” he said. “It was Jose Aldo.

“He’s from my city, Manaus, so this is what I’m aiming for.

“Manaus is so far away from everything else, so I want to win this belt and continue to defend the legacy of Manaus and be the best featherweight champion ever.”

Which means bucking the current trend of winning a title and immediately calling for a shot at the belt in another division.

“I want to win this belt this weekend and defend it as many times as possible,” he said. “This is what motivates and excites me, because I’m facing someone who’s a former champion and a legend.

“So to beat him, that means I have to put on my best performance and come out with the title.

“This week is the most important week in my life.

“He’s going to try and take advantage of this last run for the title. He took some time off and I believe he’ll come in his best shape to try and take the belt back.”

Volkanovski dominated Jose Aldo in 2019. Picture: Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Lopes beat Brian Ortega last year. Picture: Getty Images

Ironically, the man who promises to end Volkanovski’s UFC career is actually a huge fan of the former footy front-rower.

Lopes told this masthead last year that he watched Volkanovski closely when he still had the belt, and says despite Volk’s long lay-off, he is expecting a dangerous opponent this weekend.

“I’ve always looked at the top of the division, ever since I started, and the focus shifted to Volkanovski when I beat Brian Ortega last year,” he said. “Volkanovski seems like he’s in a good place.

“I don’t know if everything’s okay, or if he’s just playing the role of a fighter by saying it’s all okay.

“But I’m preparing for the best version of Alex Volkanovski.”

Originally published as ‘He’ll have to make a decision’: Diego Lopes’ retirement threat for Alex Volkanovski