Diego Lopes doubts Arman Tsarukyan would be able to walk right into a featherweight title shot.

Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) runs things back with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 325 headliner at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (Paramount+).

No. 1 lightweight contender Tsarukyan was snubbed out of the title picture and his next fight won’t be for the belt. In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Tsarukyan said he could likely make 145 pounds, something he hasn’t done since 2017. It’s an idea he’s willing to entertain if the skies remain murky for him at lightweight.

“I don’t know if this guy thinks he deserves this fight at 145,” Lopes told reporters of Tsarukyan at UFC 325 media day (h/t TheMacLife). “I think the UFC didn’t give him the fight at 155, I think less at 145. But, I respect him. He’s a great athlete, a great guy. He’s so dangerous, but if he wants to come to the division, I think he has a great fight for him here.”

Speaking of deserving, Lopes himself knows he’s been subject to criticism after getting his second shot at the UFC featherweight title in less than a year. After losing to Volkanovski for the vacant title at UFC 314, Lopes rebounded with a knockout of Jean Silva this past September to earn a rematch.

“The people are never happy,” Lopes responded. “If the UFC gave the chance to Movsar (Evloev), people will start to question that this guy hasn’t fought in a year. Never finished a fight, you agree? If it’s Lerone Murphy, ‘Oh, but he beat one guy outside of the UFC.’ So, the people are never happy. This is the truth. The UFC sent me the chance, ‘Oh, he beat the No. 10 guy.’ They’re never happy with the UFC’s decision.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 325: Diego Lopes welcomes idea of Arman Tsarukyan at featherweight