Many UFC 5 players are frustrated that Diego Lopes still does not have his signature spinning elbow, even after multiple patches and even after his spectacular KO over Sodiq Yusuff and his highlight-reel knockout against Movsar Evloev was circulated everywhere.
Despite his major rise in popularity and multiple fighter updates, the spinning elbow animation is still missing from his moveset.
This article breaks down why Diego Lopes does not have a spinning elbow in UFC 5, how fighter move updates work, what typically causes delays, and what steps you can take to get updated move data as soon as EA releases it. Every fix follows your required structure with intro lines, steps, a testing method, and root cause.
In Short (Quick Answers)
• Diego Lopes is missing his spinning elbow in UFC 5 because EA has not patched his moveset since his breakout performances.
• Adding a move requires animation mapping, class balancing, and fighter-specific approval—not just toggling a setting.
• Updating the game files or downloading the newest fighter tuning pack ensures you get the move once EA adds it.
• EA often batches fighter updates, so individual moves sometimes arrive months later.
Why Diego Lopes Doesn’t Have a Spinning Elbow Yet (And the First Fix You Should Try)
Diego Lopes’ spinning elbow is one of the cleanest signature strikes among UFC newcomers, but UFC 5 assigns special moves through internal tuning packs. Even if a fighter performs a highlight KO in real life, the game team must manually adjust animations, hitboxes, frame data, and AI logic before adding it.
If your UFC 5 roster or move list feels outdated, the fastest fix is to update both the game and the fighter tuning data, which includes post-launch move adjustments.
Quick Fix
Open UFC 5 → Settings → Profile → “Check for Fighter Updates.” Download the newest tuning pack to ensure your roster has the latest move adjustments.
Fix 1: Download the Latest Fighter Update Tuning Pack
Even though Diego Lopes doesn’t have his spinning elbow yet, some players are missing other updated moves because they never downloaded the latest fighter tuning pack. UFC 5 separates game updates from fighter attributes and move updates, meaning you must manually apply the newest fighter data.
These UFC 5 update fixes help when your roster or move list is outdated.
Steps
- Launch UFC 5 from your console.
- Go to the Main Menu → Settings.
- Scroll to Profile / Updates.
- Select Check Fighter Updates.
- Download the most recent tuning pack if prompted.
- Restart the game to apply changes.
Testing Step:
Open any fighter’s moveset and check whether newly added moves appear. If other fighters updated, your tuning pack is working properly.
Root Cause:
Many UFC 5 players think roster updates install automatically, but they do not—fighter tuning is delivered separately.
Fix 2: Refresh Local Game Files to Ensure New Moves Load Correctly
Sometimes UFC 5 stores outdated fighter move data on your console. Even when EA updates the game, your local files may still load older versions of move animations. Refreshing your installation forces the game to pull new fighter data from the servers.
This helps ensure that when EA does add Diego Lopes’ spinning elbow, your game will receive it immediately.
Steps
- Close UFC 5 fully (don’t suspend).
- Restart your console.
- Launch UFC 5 again.
- Open Fight Now → Edit Fighter.
- Check if any new moves or attributes updated for other fighters.
Testing Step:
If other fighters received updated animations, your local files are syncing correctly.
Root Cause:
Cached move files can cause UFC 5 to show outdated animations, even after updates.
Fix 3: Switch to Online Mode to Force EA Servers to Sync Your Fighter Data
New fighter moves—when added—are delivered through server-side tuning. Offline mode often fails to download the latest fighter stats or animations.
If your game defaults to offline mode, you may miss future patches that include Diego Lopes’ spinning elbow.
Steps
- From the main menu, go online.
- Enter Online Championships or Online Quick Fight.
- Return to the main menu.
- Re-check your fighter tuning version.
Testing Step:
If your game downloads a tuning pack the moment you go online, this confirms missing sync was the issue.
Root Cause:
Local offline mode prevents the game from downloading updated fighter packages.
Fix 4: Rebuild Database on PS5/Console to Correct Move Assignment Files
UFC 5 uses complex fighter data tables. If these tables become corrupted—due to patches, storage issues, or incomplete downloads—movesets become outdated for multiple fighters.
Rebuilding the console database refreshes indexing and ensures tuning files load correctly.
Steps (PS5)
- Power off the console completely.
- Hold the power button until you hear a second beep → enter Safe Mode.
- Select Rebuild Database.
- Wait for the process to finish.
- Launch UFC 5 again.
Testing Step:
Check fighters like Sean O’Malley or Alex Pereira to see if their latest moves are present. If yes, your database now loads tuning correctly.
Root Cause:
Corrupted indexing prevents new tuning data from overwriting old fighter files.
Fix 5: Verify Whether EA Has Officially Added the Move Yet
Unfortunately, even if you want Diego Lopes’ spinning elbow, it might not exist in the game yet. EA Sports often updates fighters slowly, especially newcomers. They prioritize:
• Title contenders
• Champions
• High-ranked fighters
• Fighters with major gameplay implications
• Batches of multiple fighters at once
Even if Diego performed it in a big fight, EA may not have animated or assigned it yet.
Steps
- Check EA Sports UFC 5 official patch notes.
- Look for “Move Updates” or “New Animations.”
- Search the fighter list for Diego Lopes.
- Confirm whether his elbow appeared in the latest patch.
Testing Step:
If no patch notes mention Diego Lopes receiving a new move, the spinning elbow has simply not been added yet.
Root Cause:
New animations require mocap, frame tuning, and QA verification—and EA adds moves in batches.
Fix 6: Report the Missing Move to EA (More Reports = Faster Updates)
EA often prioritizes fighter updates based on player feedback volume. New fighters like Diego Lopes may get overlooked unless many players request specific move additions.
Submitting a structured report increases the chance that EA adds the move in the next tuning cycle.
Steps
- Go to EA UFC Forum → Fighter Feedback.
- Create a post with:
• Fighter name
• Missing move (Spinning Elbow)
• Reference fight (e.g., KO vs. Yusuff) - Include video links if possible.
- Upvote other posts requesting the same change.
Testing Step:
If multiple players receive EA moderator responses confirming the request is logged, your feedback is acknowledged.
Root Cause:
EA updates are partially community-driven, and missing moves get added faster with more feedback.
Fix 7: Redownload UFC 5 if Updates Fail to Appear Across Fighters
If your UFC 5 copy consistently fails to show updates for any fighter—meaning everyone’s movesets feel outdated—your installation may be corrupted.
A clean installation ensures you get the correct data when Diego Lopes’ move is finally added.
Steps
- Uninstall UFC 5.
- Restart your console.
- Reinstall UFC 5.
- Launch → check for fighter tuning updates.
Testing Step:
If multiple fighters now have updated movesets, your reinstall corrected your tuning files.
Root Cause:
Outdated or corrupted files prevent updated animations from loading properly.
Fix 8: Understand How EA Adds New Moves (Important for Expectation)
Even if Diego Lopes has performed the spinning elbow in real life, adding the move to UFC 5 is not as simple as toggling a checkbox. EA must:
- Verify the fighter uses that move consistently
- Connect the move to an existing animation or mocap a new one
- Tune frame data
- Adjust stamina cost
- Update hitboxes
- Include AI logic for CPU opponents
- Test online balance
- Ship it in a fighter tuning patch
This takes weeks—even months—especially for rising fighters who only recently emerged.
Testing Step:
Compare how long it took past fighters to receive updated moves (e.g., Dricus Du Plessis, Ilia Topuria). Updates are slow but predictable.
Root Cause:
Move additions require animation tuning, balance testing, and patch integration—not simple editing.
Final Thoughts
Diego Lopes not having his spinning elbow in UFC 5 is a frustration shared by many fans. The issue isn’t that EA doesn’t want to add it—it’s that fighter updates require tuning cycles, animation approval, and internal timing. The fixes above ensure your game is ready to receive the move as soon as EA adds it, and reporting the missing move helps push it higher on their update priority list.
1. Why doesn’t Diego Lopes have a spinning elbow in UFC 5 even though he used it in real fights?
Because fighter movesets in UFC 5 are not updated automatically after real-world fights.
Even if a fighter lands a new signature technique — like Diego Lopes’ spinning elbow KO on Lucas Almeida — EA updates moves only during roster/moveset patches, not fight-by-fight.
If the animation wasn’t included during his initial rating pass, it won’t appear until EA specifically adds it.
2. Has EA acknowledged the missing spinning elbow for Diego Lopes?
Not officially.
There is currently no developer note or patch entry confirming they’ve added or adjusted Diego Lopes’ moveset related to the spinning elbow.
However, multiple players have reported the same omission, so it’s already on EA’s radar through community posts.
3. Is it difficult for EA to add a spinning elbow to a fighter?
Mechanically, no — the spinning elbow animation already exists in the game.
The issue is not animation creation but moveset assignment.
EA still needs to:
- Update the fighter’s move level
- Balance the striking stats
- Ensure the move fits with stance and archetype
- Test it in gameplay to avoid bugs or OP behavior
These steps mean it doesn’t get added immediately after real-world fights.
4. Why have multiple patches released without updating this move?
Because roster updates typically focus on:
- New fighters
- Fixing broken animations
- Balancing stats
- Correcting glaring bugs
Moveset updates often come later and are bundled with larger patches, not small hotfixes.
A missing spinning elbow is important for authenticity, but it doesn’t break mechanics, so it tends to be lower on the priority list.
5. Will Diego Lopes likely get the spinning elbow in a future update?
Highly likely, yes.
Reasons:
- He has used the spinning elbow in high-profile fights
- Many players have requested the fix
- EA routinely updates signature moves for rising fighters
- The move already exists in the UFC 5 animation library
It will probably arrive in:
- A major roster/moveset patch
- Or a fighter rebalancing update
EA just hasn’t assigned it yet.
