Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes will finally face off inside the octagon. MMA veteran, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson recently gave his prediction for the highly anticipated matchup. The #9 ranked welterweight is going with Diego Lopes for this fight and he has his reasons.
Stephen Thompson recently addressed the Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes matchup on his YouTube channel. He made the observation that ‘young’ Lopes seems stress-free, while 33-year-old Brian Ortega has had some things going on in his life. The UFC veteran believes this could be a deciding factor in this fight.
Diego Lopes has been consistent and he is hungry. So that’s why I am leaning towards my man Lopes. Again, I might be wrong. I am terrible when it comes to picking fights but man I think this is such a good fight. I am looking forward to it.
Stephen Thompson on his YouTube channel
The highly anticipated fight between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes is scheduled for later this month as part of the featherweight showdown at UFC 306. This matchup was originally supposed to take place at UFC 303. However, it was postponed because Ortega faced health issues after struggling with weight cuts.
Diego Lopes ended up facing Dan Ige in a last-minute replacement fight, which Lopes won. Brian Ortega is now looking to break a streak of injuries and setbacks. His last major win streak occurred in 2018 before losing to Max Holloway in a title fight. Interestingly, the former title contender has not fought twice in a year since 2018. His last successful showdown was against Yair Rodriguez earlier this year at UFC Fight Night 237.
Interestingly, Lopes isn’t too concerned with Ortega. In fact, he would push on even if Ortega fails to make weight even this time around. He aims to fight his way to a title irrespective of the opponent in front of him.
Brian Ortega reflects on 10-year UFC career ahead of UFC 306 showdown
Brian Ortega has gained significant wisdom throughout his 10-year UFC career. His journey has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks. Ortega has faced numerous challenges, including injuries that led to long periods of inactivity. Despite these hardships, he has managed to grow from his experiences.
Brian Ortega’s decade long career in the UFC (Image via Imago)‘T-City’ believes that each fight brings wisdom, helping him mature as both a fighter and a person. The rough four-year stretch from 2018 to 2022 was one pivotal moment in his career. Ortega only secured one win in four fights, despite two of them being for the featherweight title. This period of hardship taught him valuable lessons about perseverance and adapting to change.
When you’re in there, you carry it with you every fight. You have to go through adversities… have to go through some troubled times… You just have to overcome it, but you also gain wisdom from it.
Brian Ortega via UFC.com
He noted that overcoming challenges, such as a recent ankle injury, has helped him gain a deeper understanding of himself and the sport. Now, as he prepares for his upcoming bout against Diego Lopes at UFC 306, Ortega is focused on using the knowledge he has gained through these struggles. Although he has been in the sport for a decade, he remains driven, aiming to reclaim a top position in the featherweight division.
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