With the UFC 303 card undergoing major makeovers, former two-time title challenger Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes agreed to lock horns. They meet at the weekend’s feature co-main event, which is going down at the T-Mobile Arena. While there is a case for a title opportunity, the Brazilian desires to fight often – Belt or no belt.
Diego Lopes has his chance to break through into the 145-pound title picture. Three consecutive first-round stoppage victories in less than five minutes of fight time. He’s but this close to making a hunt for the top spot. But he knows more diehard fans would complain even if he gets his hands in the air this weekend. Hence, the No. 14-ranked featherweight means to grind on.
If Max versus Ilia is booked, I don’t want to sit and wait…I would talk to the UFC and get them to book me against whoever wants to fight…It’s a very interesting fight…
Diego Lopes via translator during UFC 303 pre-fight Media Day
The #3 ranked featherweight Brian ‘T-City’ Ortega might prove a taxing challenge for the Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. However, he doubled down to already pleading to appear for the spectacular UFC Noche event at the “Sphere.”With CEO Dana White constantly teasing that the September 16 event will be earmarked for Mexican fans, Lopes can be a top bill on the card.
Lopes last struck down Sodiq Yusuff with a first-round TKO in April. He means to keep that momentum going. Speculations have emerged about a possible title scrap between champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway, later this summer. If the blockbuster matchup goes the way, Lopes wants to climb the long way to the top.
Brian Ortega doesn’t see an upside in matching ‘hungry lion’ Diego Lopes at UFC 303
It’s ‘T-City’ vs. ‘tenacity’ at UFC 303’s feature co-main event bout. Brian Ortega believes he has everything to lose, and Diego Lopes has everything to gain. The No. 14 fighter out of Brazil has ways to climb. Case in point — Lopes told the scrum during Media Day that he’d work the long way to the top. It makes sense for him to work the public perception and play it safe while contending for top spots.
Brian Ortega gets to hold down and keep position after UFC 303 (Source: complex.com/X)However, the BJJ black belt out of Huntington Beach Ultimate Training Center has already followed that motif. Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) considers fighting him is more about keeping his position intact than anything else. From any other standpoint. There’s not much to gain from working down the rankings.
For me, not much crazy stakes. That’s why people are like, ‘Why did you take this fight?’ For him, it obviously puts him in perfect title contention. Those are kind of the stakes there…You got these hungry lions coming up and wanting to take your spot…
Brian Ortega to reporters during UFC 303 pre-fight Media Day
He defeated Yair Rodriguez with a third-round shock submission at UFC Mexico City. Rodriguez sits immediately after him in athlete rankings. Even lower, names like Movsar Evloev, Aljamain Sterling, and Calvin Kattar engage in their own vicious callouts. Above him, Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski have splintered attention at lightweight.
They are also the only two names floating around as top contenders for the featherweight gold. So with the convoluted scenario, Ortega thinks a move up to 155 benefits him. A matchup against somebody like Lopes only helps him maintain his position in the long-running. While Ortega doesn’t see himself getting a title shot soon, he believes defeating Lopes will silence any critics in the long run
