Diego Lopes says lessons learned from his first title defeat have left him better prepared for a second shot at UFC gold. Lopes lost a five-round decision to Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 314 but will challenge him again later this month at UFC 325 on Volkanovski’s home turf. Despite hurting the champion at times, Lopes admitted he never felt comfortable shooting for takedowns, attempting none during the fight. He believes Volkanovski’s movement and disciplined adherence to instructions from his corner prevented him from finding grappling opportunities. Lopes said hearing Volkanovski’s coaches repeatedly reinforce the game plan affected his confidence and limited his options. Now confident he has corrected those mistakes, Lopes is aiming to avenge the loss. He also expressed surprise that Volkanovski has no plans to retire regardless of the rematch outcome, praising the champion’s competitive spirit and love of fighting.
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