Diego Lopes da Silva[3] (born 30 December 1994) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
[4] Born and raised in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, Lopes began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at a young age, as it was a tradition in his family to fight.
[5] Lopes began his professional MMA career in September 2012 in his home country of Brazil, making an immediate impact with a victory in his debut fight.
Seizing the chance to further his training and career, Lopes relocated to Mexico and began teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu while refining his own skills.
After establishing himself in Mexico, Lopes resumed his fighting career, determined to rise through the ranks and solidify his place in the competitive world of mixed martial arts.
[5] After competing in multiple promotions in Mexico, Lopes was invited to face Joanderson Brito at Dana White's Contender Series 37 on 31 August 2021.
[22] Subsequently, the day of the event, Ortega withdrew from the fight due to illness, and was replaced on a few hours notice by Dan Ige, at a catchweight of 165 pounds.