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Ready to face Diego Lopes
Ortega will take on Diego Lopes in a lightweight bout in UFC Noche at Sphere in Las Vegas on Sep. 14.
ANALYSIS
Ortega was a late scratch from UFC 303, where he was supposed to take on Lopes, but the event will happen either way, only that now will be in the lightweight division and on a night that will have all the eyes of the world watching. Ortega is one of the top-ranked fighters in his division and might have a physical advantage against an opponent that will move up a weight class for this event, but he can't take Lopes for granted, as the latter has won four fights in a row.
Ortega was a late scratch from UFC 303, where he was supposed to take on Lopes, but the event will happen either way, only that now will be in the lightweight division and on a night that will have all the eyes of the world watching. Ortega is one of the top-ranked fighters in his division and might have a physical advantage against an opponent that will move up a weight class for this event, but he can't take Lopes for granted, as the latter has won four fights in a row.
Late scratch from UFC 303 co-main
Ortega will no longer face Diego Lopes in the co-main event at UFC 303 on Saturday, according to the UFC 303 broadcast.
ANALYSIS
Apparently Ortega has been dealing with a fever of late, and despite staying optimistic he would be healthy enough to fight, the UFC announced his withdrawal at approximately 9:30 p.m. EST. Lopes will remain on the card, however, and will face Dan Ige in a catchweight bout.
Apparently Ortega has been dealing with a fever of late, and despite staying optimistic he would be healthy enough to fight, the UFC announced his withdrawal at approximately 9:30 p.m. EST. Lopes will remain on the card, however, and will face Dan Ige in a catchweight bout.
Lopes fight now lightweight
Ortega is competing against Diego Lopes in a lightweight fight at UFC 303 on Saturday, according to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.
ANALYSIS
Before the Lopes fight, Ortega was bulking up to lightweight for a potential bout at UFC 306 in the new Las Vegas Sphere on Sept. 14. But when UFC 303's initial and co-main fights pretty much completely fell through, Ortega-Lopes was booked for then quite quickly. Yet because Ortega had been gearing up for a move to lightweight, fighting again at featherweight seemed unsafe and improbable by UFC 303. However, Lopes agreed on a move to lightweight himself, keeping Ortega-Lopes booked for Saturday, just at a higher weight class than what is usually expected from them.
Before the Lopes fight, Ortega was bulking up to lightweight for a potential bout at UFC 306 in the new Las Vegas Sphere on Sept. 14. But when UFC 303's initial and co-main fights pretty much completely fell through, Ortega-Lopes was booked for then quite quickly. Yet because Ortega had been gearing up for a move to lightweight, fighting again at featherweight seemed unsafe and improbable by UFC 303. However, Lopes agreed on a move to lightweight himself, keeping Ortega-Lopes booked for Saturday, just at a higher weight class than what is usually expected from them.
Co-main event at UFC 303
Ortega will take on Diego Lopes in a featherweight battle at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas, per UFC President Dana White.
ANALYSIS
The UFC wanted a co-main (and an enticing one) for 303 after former champions Conor McGregor (undisclosed) and Jamahal Hill (knee) withdrew from their scheduled fights for that event. Ortega has agreed to fighting arguably the promotion's fastest-rising featherweight in just a little over two weeks' notice. But by defeating Lopes, T-City can make his top-three contender status much more legitimate.
The UFC wanted a co-main (and an enticing one) for 303 after former champions Conor McGregor (undisclosed) and Jamahal Hill (knee) withdrew from their scheduled fights for that event. Ortega has agreed to fighting arguably the promotion's fastest-rising featherweight in just a little over two weeks' notice. But by defeating Lopes, T-City can make his top-three contender status much more legitimate.
Gets revenge on Yair Rodriguez
Ortega defeated Yair Rodriguez via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 0:58 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Mexico City.
ANALYSIS
When we last saw Ortega in July 2022, he was suffering a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery in a first-round knockout loss to Rodriguez. He had been sidelined since, but returned here to get his revenge on Yair. It didn't come easy. Ortega's evening began when he rolled his ankle jumping in the air during Bruce Buffer's introduction. He then was knocked down by Rodriguez early on and nearly finished. Yet, we have seen Brian fight through difficult situations in the past, and Saturday was no different. Aided by a woeful performance from his opponent, Ortega got his grappling game going, eventually earning his first submission win since December 2017 (Cub Swanson) and his first victory of any kind since October 2020 (The Korean Zombie). It would also go on to earn him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Ortega just turned 33 years of age, so he's going to have to do whatever is necessary to get back in the Octagon as soon as possible if he hopes to climb the rankings once again at 145 pounds.
When we last saw Ortega in July 2022, he was suffering a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery in a first-round knockout loss to Rodriguez. He had been sidelined since, but returned here to get his revenge on Yair. It didn't come easy. Ortega's evening began when he rolled his ankle jumping in the air during Bruce Buffer's introduction. He then was knocked down by Rodriguez early on and nearly finished. Yet, we have seen Brian fight through difficult situations in the past, and Saturday was no different. Aided by a woeful performance from his opponent, Ortega got his grappling game going, eventually earning his first submission win since December 2017 (Cub Swanson) and his first victory of any kind since October 2020 (The Korean Zombie). It would also go on to earn him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Ortega just turned 33 years of age, so he's going to have to do whatever is necessary to get back in the Octagon as soon as possible if he hopes to climb the rankings once again at 145 pounds.