Costa Eyes Lopes Clash, Silva as Path to Featherweight Title Shot

Brazilian UFC featherweight contender, Costa, has publicly expressed his desire to face Diego Lopes, citing a previous sparring encounter as motivation. He similarly believes a potential victory for Jean Silva over Alexander Volkanovski could pave the way for a title opportunity.

Lopes Targeted After Sparring Partner’s Victory

Costa is eager to share the Octagon with Lopes, fueled by the fact that a sparring partner of his previously defeated the Brazilian fighter. “He’s gotten beaten up by my sparring partner, so it’s my turn now,” Costa stated. Diego Lopes (born December 30, 1994) currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and holds a professional MMA record of 27 wins and 8 losses as of February 20, 2026.

Silva’s Potential Upset Key to Costa’s Plans

Costa also highlighted the importance of Jean Silva’s potential success against current featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski. “If he beats Volk, I will proceed there, beat his dad (Lopes), and beat him up afterwards,” Costa explained, framing a potential sequence of victories that would position him for a title shot. Costa believes Silva’s success is integral to his own journey.

Focus Remains on Upcoming Bout Against Ige

Despite outlining his ambitions for future matchups, Costa acknowledged the immediate task at hand: a fight against Ige. He recognizes that securing a victory in this bout is crucial to break into the Top 15 rankings and initiate his plan for a title run.

Diego Lopes Profile

Diego Lopes da Silva is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist with a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, holding a 2nd degree black belt. He began his professional MMA career in 2012 and previously competed in the Mexican MMA promotion LUX Fight League, where he was a former LUX Featherweight Champion. As of July 15, 2025, he was ranked #2 in the UFC featherweight rankings.