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Aljamain Sterling considers the showdown with Diego Lopes as a possible next fight

Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has set a new target for himself at featherweight. After the cancellation of his highly anticipated fight against Movsar Evloev, Sterling has expressed strong interest in facing rising star Diego Lopes should the fight against Evloev not materialize.

After losing his bantamweight title, Sterling's move up to featherweight has been met with excitement and curiosity from fans and analysts alike. The “Funk Master” has been vocal about his desire to make an immediate impact in his new weight class, and a fight with Lopes could provide the perfect opportunity to do so.

Diego Lopes has been making waves in the featherweight division and has quickly become one of the UFC's most talked about prospects. His impressive performances and rising fame have caught the attention of Sterling, who sees Lopes as a worthy opponent and a potential stepping stone to a title shot.

Sterling's interest in Lopes is based not only on the Brazilian's ability, but also on the risk-reward factor. “I'd risk everything for this guy,” Sterling explained, emphasizing the potential benefits of facing a fighter with Lopes' current momentum.

Sterling's featherweight debut was originally scheduled to be against Movsar Evloev, but that fell through due to unforeseen circumstances. While Sterling remains open to rebooking the fight with Evloev, he is not putting all his eggs in one basket.

Interestingly, Lopes recently turned down a short-notice fight against Evloev, further complicating the matchmaking puzzle at featherweight.[4]. This decision by Lopes may have inadvertently opened the door for a possible clash with Sterling.

A Sterling-Lopes fight would be an exciting clash of styles. Sterling's world-class wrestling and grappling would be pitted against Lopes' Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. However, the full extent of Lopes' ground fighting remains somewhat of a mystery in the UFC, adding an element of unpredictability to the potential matchup.

A Sterling win over Lopes would instantly establish him as a serious contender in the featherweight division. Conversely, a Lopes win over the former bantamweight champion would catapult him into the upper echelons of the weight class.

Although Sterling is primarily thinking about Lopes, he is not ruling out other opponents. Brian Ortega's name has also been mentioned as a possible opponent, which underlines Sterling's willingness to face tough challenges in his new weight class.

As the UFC's featherweight division continues to evolve, the potential fight between Aljamain Sterling and Diego Lopes is one of the most exciting possibilities on the horizon. Sterling's champion pedigree combined with Lopes' rising star status makes for a story that combat sports fans won't be able to resist.

Whether this fight is successful remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Aljamain Sterling is not looking for an easy path in his new weight class. By targeting a dangerous opponent like Diego Lopes, Sterling is sending the message to the entire featherweight division that he is here to make waves.

As negotiations continue and the UFC works to finalize its upcoming cards, all eyes will be on Sterling and Lopes. If this fight is booked, it has all the ingredients for an exciting contest that could reshape the landscape of the featherweight division.

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