With just hours to go until UFC 303 kicks off, there’s one final twist in the story of this ill-fated pay-per-view.
The event was as a result of be headlined by Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler, with a co-headliner of Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree Jr. But by this week, all 4 of those names were out, with brand latest essential and co-mains of Alex Pereira vs Jiri Procazka and Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes being booked.
Nonetheless, the ever-changing landscape of this card continues, with a drastic last-minute change being made to the load class. Lopes has been asked to maneuver as much as lightweight to ensure that his bout with Ortega to go ahead.
Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes modified to lightweight after weight cut struggle
Just before the start of this afternoon’s UFC 303 weigh-in show in Las Vegas, broadcaster Jon Anik informed media within the room that the co-main event was being moved to lightweight. A report from Ariel Helwani indicated that Ortega was forced to start out rehydrating last night at 151lb.
The previous world title contender had been re-shaping his body with a watch towards a move to lightweight at UFC Noche in September when he took the short notice fight. And he couldn’t get past 151lb, which resulted in Lopes being told to either move up on a couple of hours’ notice or call off the fight.
“A number of things changing Friday morning,” Anik told the weigh-in show ahead of fighters tipping the scales. “Brian ‘T-City’ Ortega and Diego Lopes will now be contested at 155lb. That may be a lightweight fight now and it changes the complexion loads.
“When it comes to why this is occurring, no on the bottom context for you here. But my informed speculation from our fighter meeting, and [Daniel Cormier] can speak to this, probably on the Ortega side. He did offer up that the most important challenge was going to be weight-related.
“Diego Lopes didn’t appear to have any issue with it so we imagine that due to ‘T-City’ this fight is being moved to lightweight. I feel it effects the handicap and the breakdown and every little thing else.”
Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes each weigh in at 155lb after featherweight fight is modified
Lopes was one in every of the primary to tip the scales, wearing a hat and shorts as he got here in at 155lb on the button. He was reportedly told that if the fight didn’t move to lightweight that he could be forced out of the event.
The pair each tipped the scales at 155lb on the button, although Lopes was earlier and looked considerably the higher of the 2 by way of physique. Ortega appeared drawn and Cormier noted on commentary that he “looked like he was hurting to make 155lb.”
Ortega had been out for nearly two years before making a successful return to the octagon at UFC Mexico City in February. He avenged the controversial results of his injury loss to Yair Rodriguez from the summer of 2022, and was planning to maneuver up in weight before stepping in for UFC 303.
Since making his debut just over a 12 months ago as a late-notice alternative against Movsar Evloev in Latest Jersey, Lopes has fought thrice. He lost his first UFC outing, but got here back with back-to-back-to-back first round finishes before taking the Ortega fight.
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