As Diego Lopes approaches his fight against Sodiq Yusuff on Saturday’s UFC 300 card in Las Vegas, he’s the greatest thing since picanha, a rising star in the featherweight division, and one of the most popular fighters on the roster.
But at this time last year, the Brazilian was on the outside looking in, on a two-fight winning streak but still waiting for his call to the big show.
“My goal at the time was just to stay ready when the opportunity came,” said Lopes through a translator. “I knew that it was just a matter of time until I got the call to fight in the UFC, so I was preparing as if I was already under contract and just waiting for my next assignment.