Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matchmakers pulled off another shocker earlier tonight (Sat., June 29, 2024) at UFC 303 LIVE on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as an ill-stricken Brian Ortega was removed from his co-main event clash with Diego Lopes and replaced by Dan Ige.
While Ige was already sanctioned and in camp to fight in a few weeks, he literally had three hours to accept this fight, drive from his nearby home to T-Mobile Arena, weigh in, and prepare for one of the fastest-rising fighters in the sport. The quick change-up is a true testament to Ige and Lopes, as well as UFC for finding a way to salvage UFC 303’s PPV main card yet again.
UFC CEO Dana White has had a hand in all of the changes for UFC 303’s card, including Conor McGregor’s injury withdrawal, and he once again helped produce a replacement banger. White commented on the last-second changes prior to the start of UFC 303’s PPV main card.
Dana White talks about the co-main change pic.twitter.com/PZxOSxUj2h
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 30, 2024
“Found out a couple hours ago,” said White in a cageside interview with MMA journalist Kevin Iole (shown above). “He [Ortega] got sick. Apparently, he had a fever. Had to pull out of the fight. We had doctors check him out. He had to pull out of the fight.
“Ige was ready to go. He’s fighting on the 20th. They said he’s in the best shape he’s ever been in. He’s ranked higher. So here we are.
“This is the shit legends are made of right here!”
For complete UFC 303 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.