Diego Lopes expects Brian Ortega to make it to the octagon with no hiccups on Sept. 14 at UFC 306 regardless of all of the drama that unfolded hours previous to their scheduled June bout.
Lopes and Ortega agreed to face one another in a featherweight showdown on quick discover at UFC 303 after the cardboard suffered main hits, most notably the cancellation of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, however the bout was then moved to 155 kilos hours earlier than official weigh-ins after Ortega had points chopping weight.
In an unprecedented transfer, Dan Ige finally changed Ortega simply hours earlier than the struggle, going through Lopes in a 165-pound catchweight after Ortega fell sick. Lopes defeated Ige by way of determination for his fourth straight UFC win, and requested the promotion to retry the Ortega struggle.
Each fighters have now agreed to satisfy in a featherweight contest subsequent month on the Sphere, and the Brazilian is assured that Ortega will make weight and keep wholesome.
“I’ve no worry,” Lopes instructed MMA Combating. “He’s at all times had a tough time to make 145, however he at all times makes weight. It didn’t work out final time, sadly, however I perceive it. We had two weeks [notice], he weighed over 176 kilos. We knew one thing like that might occur so we even supplied to struggle at 155, however the UFC stated no. However I’ve no worry [about Ortega missing weight now]. I’m cool, I’m targeted on my work and targeted on evolving each single day, to go there and do a great job.”
Lopes stated he was “caught unexpectedly” with the provide to struggle Ige on simply hours’ discover and that it felt like “going to the gymnasium on sparring day and randomly sparring somebody.”
It was an expertise that taught him necessary classes.
“I proved one thing to myself, that I’m prepared for any state of affairs in a struggle,” Lopes stated. “They modified the load, modified the opponent on late discover, and that confirmed I’ve a robust thoughts to be ready for any adversity.”
Lopes and Ortega can have full camps to organize for one another this time round, and the Mexico-based athlete sees similarities between them within the boxing and grappling departments.
“The concept is at all times the identical — stroll ahead and go for the end as quick as attainable,” Lopes stated. “I do know that doing a great work within the Ortega struggle and beating him emphatically may elevate me within the rankings and my identify can be sturdy to struggle for the belt sooner or later.
“I don’t know if I’ll go straight for the belt [with a win at UFC 306], however my identify will certainly be on the desk if one thing occurs. If the UFC has any last-minute adjustments, my identify can be on the desk, identical to it was once they needed to substitute the co-main occasion at UFC 303. We will say an opportunity [for the belt] gained’t be that far.”
