Is Diego Lopes Mexican? Explaining the UFC fighter's background, ethnicity, and heritage
Diego Lopes is presently on the cusp of entering the UFC featherweight championship picture. Lopes made his professional MMA debut in Sept. 2012 and faced his fair share of ups and downs over the years.
He appeared on Dana White's Contender Series back in Aug. 2021 but lost a technical unanimous decision after being unable to continue following an eye poke.
Lopes eventually made his UFC main roster debut at UFC 288 in May 2023, losing a razor-thin unanimous decision against the undefeated Movsar Evloev. Lopes has won four consecutive fights since.
Lopes, the No. 13-ranked featherweight, faces the No. 3-ranked Brian Ortega next. They'll clash at UFC 306 (Riyadh Season Noche UFC) at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday, Sept. 14. The event notably boasts a Mexican Independence Day theme.
Is Diego Lopes Mexican?
Diego Lopes' surname is common in Mexico and Brazil. It's spelled as either Lopes or Lopez and is a word of Spanish origin. In addition, his residence and training in Mexico sometimes lead fans to believe he's Mexican. However, Lopes was born in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, and grew up in the country.
Lopes commenced his Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) journey at seven and moved to Mexico at 19 after accepting an opportunity to serve as a jiu-jitsu coach in that country.
Speaking to MMA Junkie in a Spanish-language interview back in 2021, Lopes recounted shifting to Mexico and developing a close bond with BJJ and MMA fighters in that nation.
Lopes trained at his own gym, Brazilian Warriors, in Puebla, Mexico. He also trained at the Lobo Gym in Guadalajara, Mexico. After his second-round KO defeat against Amir Elzhurkaev in Jan. 2018, he relentlessly refined his striking skills in Mexico.
Speaking to the UFC in 2023, Diego Lopes asserted that Mexico "means a lot" to him, alluding that he'd extensively competed on the Mexican MMA circuit before breaking into the UFC.
Lopes further thanked his team, naming the Brazilian Warriors gym and Wolf Gym and noting that he's worked hand-in-hand with them to ascend to the top of the MMA world.
Expressing his gratitude toward Mexico, he stated:
"To have the support of all the people of Mexico and to feel their energy gives me great pleasure."
One of Diego Lopes' biggest career wins came at UFC 300 this past April. The Brazil-born, Mexico-based grappling savant showcased his stellar striking, spectacularly stopping Sodiq Yusuff via first-round TKO.
During the post-fight press conference, a reporter pointed out that Lopes is from Brazil but fights out of Puebla, Mexico. They asked whether he feels he's got the support of both Brazilians and Mexicans.
Lopes responded by recalling his move to Mexico in 2015. The 29-year-old explained:
"I do think I represent both countries because after my first fight, I gained a lot of followers, got love from Brazil. I mean, if you think about it, my career took off in Mexico. So, basically, ever since I moved there, from 2015, so basically, it's about 10 years. And you know, I live in Mexico. I train in Mexico. My team is Mexican. I only train with Mexicans. That's where I live, and that's my home. It's who I represent. But I do feel that I have the love for both countries."
Watch Diego Lopes' assessment below (6:18):