Tensions are rising in the UFC featherweight division as Diego Lopes is granted a second crack at the 145-pound title.Earlier today, the promotion announced Lopes and Alexander Volkanovski as the headliners for UFC 325. Sure enough, Lerone Murphy, who secured an electrifying win over the highly touted Aaron Pico in August, took issue with the matchup:"Missing the opportunity to fight one of featherweights goats is what hurts me the most. It’s not about who’s the best anymore. It’s about who’s most popular."Now, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, who has made 145 pounds his new home, has come out backing the Englishman's sentiment. As 'Funk Master' sees it, if not him, it was either Murphy or the No.1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev who deserved the opportunity:"I agree with Lerone. Even if I didn’t get it, him or Movsar for sure should’ve been the guy. Movsar got passed over by Lopes once, and he gets another opportunity for gold lol. Fair play to Lopes, but you can see why guys start to lose love for the game. Cold world."Check out Aljamain Sterling and Lerone Murphy's comments below:Lopes dropped a unanimous decision to Volkanovski at UFC 314 in April. A short few months later, at Noche UFC, he got back to winning ways, securing a vicious spinning back elbow TKO over Fighting Nerds standout Jean Silva. Murphy and Evloev, meanwhile, are undefeated in their MMA careers.Diego Lopes shares cryptic post after bagging second title shotWhile many featherweights are unhappy after Diego Lopes was granted a second title shot against Alexander Volkanovski, the 30-year-old Brazilian has issued what appears to be cheeky advice for his fellow competitors.As Lopes sees it, before firing off criticism his way, his detractors need to show up even when it's inconvenient. In a post on X, he wrote:"Take the risks, accept the fights they're offering you, do a good job and presentation, and then we'll talk. Mustache season is coming. See you in Australia." [Translated from Spanish to English via X]UFC 325 will be the second numbered event after Paramount+ takes over as the world's premier MMA organization's official broadcaster in the U.S.