Jafer Filho believes he can be the Diego Lopez of the flyweight division.
Lopez stepped into the UFC cage for the first time in May 2023 for an impromptu bout against Top Rank's Movsar Evloev. He almost handed Evloev his first loss of the competition, but ultimately lost by decision. Lopez earned even more bonuses in subsequent UFC appearances with first-round finishes over Gavin Tucker and Pat Sabatini.
Former Shooto Brazilian champion who, unlike Lopez, found success in UFC matches Contender series, Filho was paired with 125-pound prospect Muhammad Mokaev in his UFC debut. He came close to submitting the undefeated Russian, but ultimately allowed Mokaev to fight back and win by tapout.
Filho took less than four minutes to choke out Daniel Burress in his next bout in July of this year, and now he's looking for another finish against 8-0 veteran Ord Osborne at UFC Vegas 88 on Saturday. He continues to move up to the 125-pound weight class. .
“Not only can we [be like Diego Lopes]but I’m sure I will,” Filho said on MMA Fighting. Trocason Franca Podcast. “If you look at my record, most of my wins are by stoppage. I don't like to leave it up to the judges. I go in there for a knockout or a submission. [my opponent], or may be knocked out or submitted. But that's not the case now. We can go out there to finish him off and continue like Diego is doing and make history in the flyweight division. ”
Filho said he hopes his big win in Las Vegas will lead to his next fight against a higher-ranked opponent, which will be part of his plans with the ultimate goal of a rematch with Mokaev in the future. Mokaev submitted Tim Elliott and picked up a decision win over Alex Perez since his win over Filho.
“In the end, we ended up playing a match against Mokaev, a match that not many people wanted,” Filho said. “I always like a challenge. I love it because it creates hype around me. I went back to England and won, and now I'm going treble again to ensure the next win. I trained because I know this is a crowded place and no one wants to stay behind. I'm only getting hungrier and hungry to maybe fight Mokaev at the top again and have a great match. I am walking my own path in order to do so.”
Osbourne has won four of eight fights under the UFC banner and boasts a 2-2 UFC record in fights that ended in knockouts. Filho is confident that he can inflict another defeat on the “Jamaican sensation” on his own, but he plans to follow a different game plan.
“He has a lot of experience and has fought some tough guys, but I got nothing from the fighters I fought,” Filho said. “He's fast and explosive, but my wrestling and grappling control and domination game is much better than his, and that would break his will, so I'm not sure if that's the case in the fight. have control.
“as [coach Andre Pederneiras] He said to me, “Jafel, you have the heaviest hands in the division, and no matter what you do, this man will fall.'' it's true. [But] We want to make a solid play against him in the grappling. That way you will be more advantageous. Why take the harder path when there is an easier path? ”
