UFC 303’s pay-per-view event from T-Mobile Arena edges nearer and nearer every hour. Fast forward a few blowouts, a few razor-thin picks, and Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega are supported in the co-main event. However, as it happens, the top featherweights will now fight at lightweight limits. 145-pound champ Ilia Topuria took this moment to douse warring words — to Max Holloway.
UFC 303 Ceremonial weigh-ins and fighter faceoffs took place at T-Mobile Arena. At around 3:30 a.m. local time, Lopes got a call that Brian Ortega would need an extension to rehydrate. Allegedly, he was hedging around the 151lbs limit. Ariel Helwani (MMAFighting on SBN) hence reported that the fight would be at lightweight. Ilia Topuria taunts that won’t be the case with him.
Max, you won’t have to cut to featherweight. I will defend the belt at 155 pounds, but please sign the contract…
Ilia Topuria via x (@Topuriailia)
‘El Matador’ won his gold against Alexander Volkanovski at the UFC 298 PPV headliner. Meanwhile, Max Holloway returned to 155 after five years to deliver a buzzer-beating violent KO in April. Ever since the Alicante-Georgian has been thirsting for his BMF belt. Now, unlike Lopes, he says he’d go up to 155 rather than Holloway dropdown. All ‘Blessed’ has to do is sign the contract.
Diego Lopes on switch to 155 for fight vs. Brian Ortega:
“146 pounds last night. At 4 a.m. my manager woke me up with the phone in hand while on call with the UFC, who were asking if we could take the fight at 155 pounds because my opponent wasn’t going to make weight. All I… pic.twitter.com/FD6LiOkULZ
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) June 28, 2024
Max, you won’t have to cut to featherweight. I will defend the belt at 155 pounds, but please sign the contract. https://t.co/SPG0k9MDRg
— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) June 29, 2024
So says Topuria. Rumor has it, that there are already talks about such a fight in the cog, but at featherweight. If the tease that a contract in place turns out to be true, Topuria vs. Holloway would be one for the ages. Topuria is all up for the challenge.
Between The Links: One-up better for short-notice fights?
An all-striking clinic between Ilia Topuria and consensus top-notch boxer Max Holloway will be the talk of the town. For now, though, it’s all eyes on Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega. In an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, ‘T-City’ hinted he was already in a mindset for a move up. He had been bulking, dreaming of a move to lightweight at UFC Noche. Then came the call for serving the UFC 303 co-mains.
Is a division up the better way to go for Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes on short notice? (Source: UFC.go.com/X)According to “The MMA Hour” host Ariel Helwani, Ortega’s camp reported he was struggling to get down to 146 and past 151. The 33-year-old reported needing to rehydrate or the fight would be off, if not at lightweight. Diego Lopes readily agreed to the terms.
The Official weigh-ins happened at T-Mobile Arena, which hosts Saturday’s event (ESPN+ pay-per-view). “A lot of things changing Friday morning,” started Jon Anik on the weigh-in broadcasts as he announced the lightweight shift. However, unlike the June curse of multiple pullouts and changes, this did not come out bothersome.
🚨 Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes is now a lightweight fight.
Brian Ortega had been bulking up, preparing for a move to 155 before he got the call to fight Diego Lopes at #UFC303.
At around 3:30 AM last night, Diego Lopes’ team got a call saying that Brian Ortega was 151 lbs, and… pic.twitter.com/nV0KhGwu4z
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 28, 2024
With the short-notice nature of the fight. fans said a fully rehydrated limit made sense. For example, replacing Justin Tafa, a severely limited brother Junior Tafa almost blew out his lead leg and all his foundation at UFC 298. From slicers that at any other time would not have been so devastating.
Both fighters made the mark; although, Diego Lopes seemed to come better off it. It’s anyone’s telling where the match goes from here.
Is Ilia Topuria better off at 155?
Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway have engaged in mild banters and callouts, even before since UFC 300. Then came the switch-up, with the Spaniard wanting to add the BMF belt. Now he teases there’s a contract in place. All the 32-year-old expectant opponent has to do is sign on the dotted line.
The fighter also teased that UFC had already confirmed UFC Paris as a prime locale for his maiden defense. During Bellator Champions Series 2: Mix vs. Magomedov 2 in Paris, Chael Sonnen lauded his tactic of hyping up the matter. True or not, it keeps him in the conversation long enough. So when the time comes, his is the name Holloway and management has it in mind naturally.
A tease of a contract in place would have a similar effect. Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) has a guaranteed foothold at both 145 and 155. With a move up the right way, the Team Gracie Technics boxer proved the value of full hydration. Topuria could be the same. Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has four out of seven stoppages to timely KO’s ever since his debut.
His massive right overhand and a subsequent left proved how strong he can be, even against the likes of Volk. He can stand his ground and outbox almost all opponents. With a 4.40 SLpM – Significant Strikes Landed per Minute, and about 50% accuracy throughout, he is quite the force. If he cuts weight correctly, a fully hydrated Topuria can be a reckoning for all lightweights.
