Diego Lopes has slammed a litany of “bulls***” claims being voiced by Sunday’s hyped UFC Noche rival Jean Silva – while also making a surprise call on Australia’s own two Octagon kings.
Only five months on from challenging Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight crown, Lopes is now readying to punch his way back into a title rematch via Silva, who is himself on a tear of 13 straight wins
While both men hail from Brazil, Lopes’s choice to represent Mexico appears to have angered his rival, with Silva taking several swipes during the build – including an offer to bet his entire purse on Lopes being unable to take him down.
Then this week, Silva doubled down and accused his rival of narrowly avoiding a hotel showdown after the pair crossed paths an fight week, an accusation Lopes quickly laughed off.
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“This is lies, all lies,” he told Fox Sports Australia from the US this week.
“This never happened.
“I was crossing the hotel and this guy, he was watching me.
“So I watch him, he says nothing.
“He was moving too.
“It’s all bulls***.
“He talks a lot of s*** … I’m sorry for the language but he talks a lot of s***.”
Asked if it was all a case of Silva attempting mental warfare, Lopes nodded.
“Oh yes, 100 per cent,” he continued.
“He’s trying to put things in my mind.
“But it’s OK, bro.
“I’ve had a lot of fights.
“I have a lot of experience against different people, different styles, so for me, it’s OK.
“I’ve been in this game a long time so this isn’t new for me.
“But for him, it is new.
“He’s in a main event, has a lot of hype behind him.
“But that’s all OK.”
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Elsewhere, Lopes praised Volkanovski’s efforts in besting him for the vacant UFC featherweight crown in April, but stressed he wanted the Aussie to hang around long enough for the pair to rematch.
And in a surprise take, Lopes also said he will be backing Australia’s new UFC welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena to upset Islam Makhachev when they throw down inside Madison Square Garden this November – describing Della’s boxing as some of the best in the UFC.
While ‘Della’ will start the betting outsider against Makhachev at UFC 322 on November 16, Lopes insisted the West Australian will cause a huge Octagon boilover.
“I think Jack wins, and not just because I’m talking to somebody from Australia,” Lopes laughed.
“I’m a big fan of Jack Della.
“I really like his boxing style.
“It’s some of the best in the UFC.
“I’ve been following him since the Contender series.
“And against Makhachev, yes this is a great fight.
“Islam Makhachev is pound for pound No.1.
“But I still think Jack still has advantages.
“He’s incredibly competitive and this would be a great first defence.”
And as for him eventually rematching Volk?
“Bro, I definitely hope Volk is still there as champion because I want this rematch,” he said.
“I respect him.
“And I’d be happy to share the Octagon again with him because I know now I’m a different athlete (after that first title fight).
“I’ve now shared the Octagon with Volk for 25 minutes.
“He’s one of the best guys in the world.
“One of the best in featherweight history, and I learned a lot in that fight.
“I’m a lot more confident now.
“Because there are things that won’t be new for me now in the Octagon.”