Bryce Mitchell Removed From UFC 289, Diego Lopes Steps in
Movsar Evloev will welcome UFC newcomer Diego Lopes at UFC 288 on May 6th in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Evloev was initally scheduled to face Bryce Mitchell, stepping in to replace Jonathan Pearce, but now has recieved his own short notice opponent change.
This fight takes place in the Featherweight (145 lbs) division.
Movsar Evloev is ranked #10 at Featherweight and holds an undefeated professional record of 16-0 (6-0 UFC). He holds credible wins over Dan Ige, Hakeem Dawodu, and Seung Woo Choi.
Diego Lopes holds a professional record of 21-5 (0-0 UFC) and will be making his octagon debut. He holds noteworthy wins over Ángel Rodríguez, Kenneth Glenn, and Marco Beltran.
Offical odds have yet to be released.
Movsar Evloev has looked unstoppable so far during his UFC run. After successfully debuting against Seung Woo Choi in 2019, Evloev has put together a six-fight winning streak inside the UFC. His last performance came against Dan Ige, where he would dominate Ige with his striking and wrestling en route to a unanimous decision. Evloev will want nothing more than his first UFC finish, when he takes on promotional newcomer Diego Lopes.
Diego Lopes has just earned himself the opportunity of a lifetime. The Brazillian, fighting out of Puebla de Zaragoza, México, has been a professional fighter since 2012, and despite amassing an impressive record of 21-5, hasn't been able to find success in his biggest opportunities. Lopes would be defeated in his Contender Series bout and his Fury FC debut. But now, he can put that all behind him. He'll need to use every tool in his skillset to claim the massive upset victory in this matchup.
This is going to be a matchup to keep your eye on this weekend. Who do you think will win? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.
