Unstoppable warrior! Known as one of the fiercest finishers in the UFC, Diego Lopes comes from a long line of dedicated martial artists. Born and raised in Manaus, Brazil, he continued the family tradition for Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a child and began competing at age 7. Everything else happened fast: The prodigy earned his purple belt at 16 and followed the call to become a mixed martial arts (MMA) teacher in Mexico at just 19. Meanwhile, his MMA talent earned Lopes a spot in the Mexican MMA promotion LUX Fight League, where he rose to become a LUX Featherweight Champion with his signature aggressive fighting style. Lopes was ready to take over by storm when the UFC signed him in 2023. After claiming the Fight of the Night award on his debut bout, Lopes secured three post-fight bonuses in his first five appearances. His record as a knockout and submission artist, the majority of his wins come from finishes, many in the first round, garnered Lopes several awards: He was named Newcomer of the Year and Breakout Fighter of the Year before fighting for the UFC Featherweight Championship twice in bonus-winning battles. Still shooting for the belt, Lopes gave back to the sport by founding a nonprofit jiu-jitsu academy, "Brazilian Warriors," for underprivileged children in Puebla, Mexico. But make no mistake: A true warrior with a kind soul, Lopes still has zero mercy for his opponents!