‘She has what it takes to be UFC champion’

Loopy Godinez is well on her way to capturing UFC glory, with the unwavering belief of Diego Lopes.

In her recent dominant victory over Elise Reed at Noche UFC last September, Godinez earned herself a spot within the official strawweight rankings of the promotion. Lopes, one of Godinez’s primary coaches at Lobo Gym and also a fellow UFC fighter, sees this as just a stepping stone on her path to the championship.

Lopes envisions immense potential in Godinez, and he isn’t shy about expressing it.

“When our coach saw her, and Pancho has a lot of vision, when she stopped by a week, then 10 days, then another week, and she was going back and forth between Canada and Mexico, Pancho said, ‘She has what it takes to be a champion,’” revealed Lopes in an interview with MMA Junkie. “Wherever she decided she wanted to train, we were always going to be there to help get there. So anyway, the first fight she worked with us was for one of her UFC Apex fights, and Pancho was training with her, and he was in her corner, and she won.

“Now, she did her full camp with us and officially joined the team. She’s part of us, and I was able to work with her for her Noche UFC fight. Loopy has evolved a ton, and she’s had the trust in us. Her hands have improved, and don’t even get me started on her jiu-jitsu and wrestling. She’s improving. … Loopy has what it takes to be a champion, and we’re going to get there step by step.”

Godinez made the decision to train full-time at Lobo Gym in Guadalajara, Mexico, alongside UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and top women’s bantamweight contender Irene Aldana, after previously training in Canada.

With a record of 5-1 in her last six UFC performances, Godinez’s only loss came in a short notice fight against former Invicta FC champion Angela Hill.

Lopes, a confident UFC featherweight, believes in Godinez’s skills and her potential for continuous growth, emphasizing her athleticism and strength as key differentiating factors in the division.

“Loopy is like up to my chest in terms of her height, and she picks me up like if I were 10 pounds,” Lopes said. “She’s so strong, and mixing that strength with her technique and intelligence, I think we can make her a champion.”

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie