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Diego Lopes has his sights set on Ilia Topuria’s UFC featherweight title, and he’s not afraid to go and take it from him.

Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC), a streaking title contender at 145 pounds, wants to be the next person to challenge Ilia Topuria, and he believes he’s more than deserving to call for a title shot, given the body of work he’s put together in 2024.

“If they asked me what arguments there are for me to be the next one, I say: I’m on a good streak; I’ve beaten three people in the rankings this year; I’m at No. 3, and Topuria has beaten the two fighters that are above me in the rankings,” Lopes told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “We’re the new blood of the division, and this is a renewal bout for the division.

“I think for a long time, all the championship fights have either involved Volkanovski or Holloway. This fight will be a renewal. Also, this fight can be done in Spain or anywhere in Latin America and be promoted 100 percent in Spanish for all the Hispanic people. Those are the arguments that I bring to the table.”

Topuria is coming off a historic win at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. Not only did he complete his first title defense, but he also became the first man to knock out Max Holloway.

Topuria has put away six of the eight opponents he’s faced in the UFC and has proven he’s one of the most dangerous fighters in the game. Although Lopes respects his craft, the Lobo Gym and Brazilian Warriors product is in no way afraid of his power, and sees Topuria as a good matchup.

“What I bring to the table, simply put, is the power in my hands, definitely, the explosivity in my striking, my volume, and I’d say the main thing is that I don’t fear anyone,” Lopes said. “I don’t fear anyone. Just like he goes to punish, so do I.

“If the fight does go down, it will be a clash, a clash. If he moves forward, he’s going to run into a wall. That’s what I bring. I won’t be backing up, moving side to side, looking to maintain the fight at a distance. I like the clash. I like coming in and clashing. That’s where I feel comfortable, and that’s also his game, so I think the style favors me.”

Lopes told MMA Junkie that he’s open to face Alexander Volkanovski for an interim title in early 2025 if Topuria were to take a break from the sport. However, his ideal scenario is a title shot, which he feels confident can happen next.

“If we’re talking about numbers and results, not to brag, but I think I’m in a good position to ask for the title,” Lopes said. “Before April 10, before UFC 300, I wasn’t in the UFC rankings. However, since, I’ve beaten three ranked fighters, and I’ve positioned myself at No. 3. I think based on merit, I’ve earned the position that I’m in. Topuria just knocked out No. 1 and 2, and I’m No. 3. I think I have arguments to call for this title fight.”

Joaquin Buckley wants his shot at the interim title.

On Thursdays, news broke that welterweight champion Belal Muhammad was forced out of his UFC 310 title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov due to a nasty injury. While nothing is official, reports are that the UFC currently is looking for a replacement opponent for Rakhmonov, perhaps even for an interim welterweight title, and almost immediately Ian Machado Garry threw his hat in the ring for that opportunity.

But not so fast, so says Buckley.

Thursday evening, Buckley released a response video to Garry’s callout of Rakhmonov, dismissing the undefeated Irish star’s claim and suggesting he is better served to “take the throne.”

“Hey look, I’m going to let you finish but I’ve got something to say,” Buckley said while hitting a heavy bag. “Nobody wants to see that fight. People want to see knockouts. People want to see finishes. And that’s exactly what we’re fixing to bring, me versus Shavkat. He’s got 18 finishes, 10 subs, 8 knockouts, and your boy? I’ve got 14 knockouts, and I just knocked out my last two ranked opponents. So what you think I’m fixing to do to this dude?

“UFC, this is the fight y’all have got to make. Like I told y’all, I’m coming to take the throne, and I ain’t playing. Boom!”

Currently ranked No. 9 in the UFC welterweight rankings, Buckley is on a five-fight unbeaten streak since dropping back down to 170 pounds. Most recently he knocked out Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson at UFC 307 earlier this month.

Garry, meanwhile, is No. 7 in the UFC rankings and most recently won a close decision over Michael “Venom” Page at UFC 303 this summer.

UFC 310 takes place on Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and also features a men’s flyweight title bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura.

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada – With new rules being implemented starting at  UFC Fight Night 246, Jasmine Jasudavicius is suggesting one more.

Jasudavicius (11-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) takes on Ariane da Silva (17-9 MMA, 6-6 UFC) on Saturday’s prelims (ESPN+) at Rogers Place. Two new rules will make their UFC debut Saturday as, for the first time in the history of the Unified Rules of MMA, 12-6 elbows will be allowed at UFC Fight Night 246. Also, a “grounded fighter” is redefined as an athlete who has any part of their body, besides their hands or feet, on the ground.

“I’m a big fan of the ruleset being changed to that, and I’ve definitely been implementing it,” Jasudavicius told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC Fight Night 246 media day.

Jasudavicius wants to see a bigger punishment for weight misses, especially big ones. At UFC 297, Jasudavicius was scheduled to face Priscila Cachoeira at flyweight, but the bout was moved to bantamweight after Jasudavicius revealed that Cachoeira was having issues making weight. Jasudavicius ended up submitting Cachoeira to earn a Performance of the Night bonus.

“I think more of a penalty for missing weight,” Jasudavicius said. “Like the guy last week missing by 10 pounds, that’s crazy. There has to be some more accountability than just money. Like it should be a suspension or something like that.

“I think half the battle is making weight, and for people that are professional and they’re doing it, I understand, yes, there are some misses and stuff, and that happens. But there has to be, I think, something with that. I don’t know what, but something.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 246.

Michael Page would move up to middleweight to fight Shara Magomedov.

Magomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) called out former champion Israel Adesanya after his spectacular knockout of Armen Petrosyan this past Saturday at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. Adesanya told Magomedov to keep his name out of his mouth, but MVP is happy to swoop in and take that fight. He sees a fight between him and Magomedov being a striker’s delight.

“The hairs on the back of my neck went up when I heard Shara ‘Bullet’ call out my boy Izzy,” Page said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I was like, my boy Izzy is working on regaining that throne, let me jump in. I’m happy to do it. You’re talking about being the best striker. He says in his division, but right now I’m grappling in your division. So, why not? At 185, happy to jump up.”

Page (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who most recently was outgrappled in a close decision loss to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 303 in June, is keeping active by competing in a grappling match. He meets former WEC champion and former UFC interim champion Carlos Condit in the Polaris 30 main event on Saturday in London.

He was highly impressed with Magomedov’s double backfist finish of Petrosyan but is confident that “Bullet” would eventually try and grapple him if they fought.

“Absolutely beautiful, I really enjoyed that,” Page said. “And it was definitely something he’s drilled before, so I really like that. It’s a very nice shot. When it comes to striking, I just fear nobody. I bet I get him to try to take me down. He’s going to get panicky in some way, shape, or form. I bet he tries and takes me down, but if he doesn’t and just stands with me then I just think it’s going to be an exceptional MMA fight.”