Diego Lopes da Silva was born on December 30, 1994 in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. He began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a child (around age seven), following a family tradition, and earned his purple belt by age 16. Although school presented challenges, Lopes remained committed to martial arts, which eventually led him to transition from BJJ into mixed martial arts.
Lopes made his professional MMA debut in September 2012 in Brazil. He won his first fight and accrued a number of wins and losses early on, building experience with both striking and grappling skills. At age 19, he accepted an opportunity to move to Mexico to work as a Jiu-Jitsu instructor. In Mexico he learned Spanish rapidly, taught students, and sharpened his MMA training, eventually affiliating with teams such as Lobo Gym.
After climbing through regional promotions, Lopes became featherweight champion in LUX Fight League, defending the title successfully. He attempted to enter the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021 but was initially unsuccessful. He later signed with the UFC, where he carried momentum into his early bouts, earning recognition for his submissions, striking improvements, and his resilience. As of 2025 he holds a high ranking in the UFC featherweight division and is widely considered a rising contender.