Brian Ortega’s Candid Account of How UFC 303 Co-Main Event Happened

Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega

After Conor McGregor withdrew from UFC 303, the promotion had to fill the PPV card. Therefore, they roped in Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes as the co-main event, with the main event being a rematch between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka.

The original co-main event was between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. The fight saw a series of changes and ended with Anthony Smith and Roman Dolidze, which likely won’t move eyeballs. Therefore, Ortega vs. Lopes became the co-main event.

‘It might still happen’… Brian Ortega remains hopeful of a surprise move to lightweight following UFC 303

The Co-Main Event Nobody Saw Coming

Brian Ortega, a two-time featherweight title challenger, is coming off an impressive victory over Yair Rodriguez at UFC Mexico City. Ortega’s spot on the co-main event was surprising. He revealed how it happened on the UFC 303 Embedded.

“Long story short, I was in Texas, chilling. Started wandering around the hotel, ran into Hunter [Campnell] and Dana [White]. Hunter said I look good, I said ‘Thank you’—thought it was a compliment, should have known better. Next day, I got a phone call saying ‘don’t want to fight,’ now we’re here,” said Ortega.

On the other hand, Diego Lopes has been clamoring for a spot at UFC 303, then UFC 306, after his impressive knockout of Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300. Movsar Evloev was his original target, as the Russian had defeated the Brazilian on his UFC debut.

The two-time featherweight title challenger revealed his plan to move to lightweight after UFC 303, citing the division’s current logjam. Though he is an underdog against Lopes, “T-City” will be looking to upset the odds before his lightweight UFC debut.