Born on 30 December 1994, Diego Lopes is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, who currently resides in Puebla, Mexico. Standing at 5′ 11″ (180 cm) and weighing 145 lbs (66 kg), he competes in the Featherweight division in the UFC.
Currently ranked #13 in UFC featherweight rankings, the 29-year-old is rapidly gaining prominence that is not just limited to his professional endeavors. Lately, queries surrounding his relationship status and dating life have surged quite a bit as well.
So, is this skilled fighter seeing someone? Here’s everything we know.
Who Is Diego Lopes’ Girlfriend? It’s Certainly Not Sydney Sweeney or Cardi B!
Diego Lopes appears to be single. He is definitely not married as of 2024, as there has been no official confirmation or public announcement regarding him exchanging vows with someone. While his wife is non-existent, there have been silly rumors about his alleged girlfriend.
Earlier this year, a social media post went viral, suggesting that Lopes might be dating actress Sydney Sweeney. As ridiculous as it sounds, yes, this was a genuine rumor that many people bought. The meme, intended for laughs, managed to fool countless people on the internet. As it turns out, this was, unsurprisingly, confirmed to be a troll post with no basis in reality.
This wasn’t the first time such rumors surfaced on Twitter (or, X, whatever you want to call it). Previously, another account linked Diego Lopes to Cardi B. And yes, this was a blatant troll as well. At this point, you could say this is a bizarre trend on social media, where people make absurd romantic links for jokes or engagements (or both). It’s likely the latter in most cases (thanks to Elon’s Twitter monetization), but the following user is not even blue-checked, so you can’t even claim he’s doing it for money; he’s clearly doing it purely for the love of the game.
Diego Lopes has never been spotted with a significant other in his public appearances. He has never talked about his dating life or past relationships in interviews, either. As far as his social media goes, you only need to take one look at his Instagram page to understand just how committed he is to his profession. Almost every post revolves around his UFC career with an occasional glimpse at his personal life.
Jiu-Jitsu Prodigy to MMA Contender: How Diego Lopes Rose from Brazil to UFC Stardom
Diego Lopes started his fighting journey in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, where he was born and raised. Thanks to a family tradition of embracing the fight game, he stepped into the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu early on at the tender age of 7.
By the time he turned 16, Diego had his purple belt in hand and was ready to jump into the world of MMA, making his debut at 17. Lopes had no issues competing frequently, but it did not come without sacrifices. As a side effect, he was not doing well academically. He then had to choose between continuing his studies or pursuing a career in fighting.
When he was 19, Lopes was offered a job in Mexico as a jiu-jitsu instructor. It was supposed to be anything but a straightforward decision because of his lack of knowledge about Mexican culture and language. However, he decided to accept the offer straight away after his mother issued an ultimatum to choose between studying and working.
The language barrier initially did not make it easy for Lopes to get settled in Puebla, Mexico. The new environment was challenging, to say the least, but he remained unfazed and determined and started to learn Spanish to communicate well with his students.
On UFC Connected, Lopes shared how tough it was teaching in a language he was basically clueless about. He was left with no choice but to pick up Spanish fast. To his credit, he succeeded and soon made it easier for him to fit into his role as a coach and connect with the local community.
While in Mexico, Lopes teamed up with UFC flyweight Alessandro Costa, and the two set up the Brazilian Warriors gym. That partnership opened the door for Lopes to join the Lobo Gym MMA crew, which trains some big names like Irena Aldana and Alexa Grasso. He’s been working side by side with the Lobo Gym team under the guidance of Francisco “Pancho” Grasso ever since.
Diego started out mainly as a coach and was right there celebrating when Alexa Grasso took the flyweight title against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285. Not long after, he stepped into the UFC cage himself on short notice, taking on Movsar Evloev. Even though he lost by unanimous decision, the fight earned “Fight of the Night” honors, making his debut one to remember.
Lopes made a name for himself with three straight first-round finishes, showing he was a serious force in the cage. He took things up a notch when he stepped in on short notice to fight Dan Ige at UFC 303, proving once again that he’s always ready to take on tough challenges. His knack for adapting under pressure has really become a defining part of his career.
Recently, at UFC 306, Diego Lopes locked in his biggest win yet with a unanimous decision over Brian Ortega. He dominated early with sharp striking and slick grappling, even rocking Ortega in the final seconds of the fight.
Though Ortega found his rhythm with better striking in the later rounds, Lopes’ control and early dominance sealed the deal. With this huge win, Lopes might just be inching closer to a future title shot.
