It seems Diego Lopes will have to wait a bit longer for his chance to get a shot at Ilia Topuria. While Topuria initially intended to take on Lopes after his scrap against Max Holloway, the UFC has other plans in mind. This shift in scheduling is frustrating for the Brazilian, who has been vocal about his desire to fight the 145lbs champ, expressing his eagerness and some disappointment on X.

The official X page of UFC presented a line of opponents for the current champion in a poster. The page captioned the post with, “He’s UNSTOPPABLE @Topuria ilia remains on top of the featherweight division after #UFC308. What’s next for the champ?”

Lopes took great umbrage to the post and wrote, “And I’m a soccer player? Or what’s going on?” The issue arose when Lopes was noticeably absent from the promotional lineup featuring Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski, and Conor McGregor. Instead of the Brazilian, the blank graphic below McGregor was left for fans to guess, further highlighting Lopes’s exclusion. This has left many fans wondering why Lopes wasn’t included in such high-profile discussions, especially given his desire to fight Topuria.

Moreover, Lopes was even the backup fighter for the UFC 308 main event between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway this past Saturday, making his seeming oversight all the more frustrating. Given his recent accomplishments, Lopes has every reason to feel overlooked.

With an impressive five-fight winning streak, including a recent victory over former title challenger Brian Ortega, Lopes has solidified his status as a formidable contender. However, during the UFC 308 press conference, Dana White indicated that Alexander Volkanovski would likely be the next challenger for Topuria.

What is next for Ilia Topuria at 145lbs?

The title picture at Featherweight still looks pretty fresh. First of all, Ilia Topuria will need to decide whether to fulfill his promise of a title rematch given to Alexander Volkanovski at the post-fight presser at UFC 308. While this bout might happen sooner rather than later, it is interesting to see the landscape opening up for other contenders. With Diego Lopes declaring his availability on X, he has positioned himself as a strong candidate, especially after serving as the backup fighter for Topuria vs. Holloway.

Lopes expressed his intentions on The Ariel Helwani Show, stating, “I think me and Volk should fight for an interim title in Sydney. Ilia wants to wait for Spain. I don’t.” If Lopes does enter the mix, he could become a key player in the title picture.

In addition to the Brazilian, the winner of the upcoming fight between Aljamain Sterling and Movsar Evloev could also find themselves in contention, as both have demonstrated their skills in the octagon. If none of these scenarios materialize, there’s always the possibility of a mega-fight with Islam Makhachev at 155lbs, especially given the heated exchanges the duo have had on social media. Moreover, even Conor McGregor could be a potential opponent, as Kamaru Usman recently suggested, citing their shared stardom and marketability.

So, who do you think Ilia Topuria will fight next? Share your thoughts in the comments below!