Daniel Cormier says the UFC’s upcoming Sphere show marks a crucial moment for Brian Ortega’s continued stay toward the top of the promotion. Plenty of storylines are set to play out at this weekend’s Noche UFC pay-per-view, with the m…
Daniel Cormier says the UFC’s upcoming Sphere show marks a crucial moment for Brian Ortega’s continued stay toward the top of the promotion. Plenty of storylines are set to play out at this weekend’s Noche UFC pay-per-view, with the most intriguing of which below the two championship headliners being a highly anticipated featherweight clash on […]
As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away. And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to …
As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away. And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Gilbert Burns vs. Sean Brady, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings. Men’s Pound-For-Pound: Israel Adesanya has found himself off […]
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes is a key fight in the featherweight division at UFC 306. The veteran contender…
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes is a key fight in the featherweight division at UFC 306. The veteran contender against the hungry up-and-comer. Ortega’s grappling and submission abilities are among the best in the division, while Lopes’ finishing capability makes him a dangerous opponent.
Brian Ortega
“T-City” Brian Ortega is a veteran of the featherweight division. At 33 years old, Ortega has a professional record of 16 wins, 3 losses, and 1 no-contest, with notable victories over fighters like Frankie Edgar and Chan Sung Jung.
Ortega is known for his exceptional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, having secured eight of his wins by submission. He has challenged for the UFC featherweight title twice, though unsuccessfully, against Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. With some close matchups, he keeps those interested in UFC betting on the edge of their seat.
Diego Lopes
Diego Lopes is a rising star in the featherweight division. At 29 years old, the Brazilian fighter holds a professional record of 25 wins and 6 losses. Lopes has quickly made a name for himself in the UFC with his aggressive fighting style, securing 22 of his victories by either knockout or submission. He has won four consecutive fights, including a notable TKO victory over Sodiq Yusuff.
Despite benign from Brazil originally, he now lives in Mexico. UFC 306 on September 14 is a celebration of Mexican Independence. It remains to be seen if Lopes will be considered a hometown favorite for the audience.
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
For Brian Ortega, a win would solidify his position as a top contender and potentially set him up for another title shot in the future. However, Ortega has hinted at a possible move to the lightweight division, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to his current standing in the featherweight rankings.
For Diego Lopes, defeating a high-profile opponent like Ortega would be a career-defining victory, moving him further up the rankings and pushing him as a legitimate contender in the division.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 24: Brian Ortega reacts after defeating Yair Rodriguez of Mexico in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Arena CDMX on February 24, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
As of the latest updates, Diego Lopes is favored to win against Brian Ortega, with odds of -150, while Ortega is the underdog with odds of +125. For Lopes, the implied probability of winning is approximately 60%, while for Ortega, it is about 44.4%. These probabilities indicate that Lopes is considered more likely to win, but the fight is still expected to be competitive.
The betting odds suggest a close fight, with Lopes having a slight edge according to bookmakers. However, given Ortega’s experience and resilience, the outcome remains uncertain, making this an exciting matchup for fans and bettors alike.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 29: Diego Lopes of Brazil looks on prior to a 165-pound catchweight fight against Dan Ige during the UFC 303 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC 305 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering. The promotion was in Perth, Australia, last week, where the RAC Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest visit Down Under. Of note were victories for UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du […]
While the aftermath of the August 17 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the middleweight title picture to the bantamweight and women’s flyweight championship conversations.
At Noche UFC (UFC 306), an event set to celebrate Mexican Independance Day inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 14, reigning 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley will compete for the second time this year. After defeating Marlon Vera, “Sugar” will make his second defense of the gold in a long-awaited grudge match against top contender Merab Dvalishvili.
Ortega & Lopes Among Those Setting The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 30
Before O’Malley defends his championship and the promotion’s top female flyweights run it back again, a mix of veterans and prospects will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their positions on the major card.
That includes former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega and the up-and-coming Diego Lopes, who will give their matchup a second chance at making it to the Octagon. After a same-day withdrawal from “T-City” saw the Mexico-residing Brazilian face and defeat Dan Ige at International Fight Week instead, Lopes will have the opportunity to crack the top five in rearranged clash with Ortega.
Prior to that, highly touted Mexican prospects Daniel Zellhuber and Ronaldo Rodriguez will open the main card against Esteban Ribovics and Ode’ Osbourne, respectively, while notable names like Irena Aldana and Raul Rosas Jr. will feature on the prelims.
See below for the full UFC 306 card, as it stands.
Main Card:
Sean O’Malley (C) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight championship main event)
Alexa Grasso (C) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (flyweight championship co-main event)
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes (featherweight)
Daniel Zellhuber vs. Estaban Ribovics (lightweight)
Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode’ Osbourne (flyweight)
Preliminary Card:
Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (lightweight)
Irena Aldana vs. Norma Dumont (women’s bantamweight)
Edgar Cháirez vs. Kevin Borjas (flyweight)
Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza (women’s strawweight)
UFC 305 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering. The promotion was in Perth, Australia, last week, where the RAC Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its latest visit Down Under. Of note were victories for UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du […]
While the aftermath of the August 17 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the middleweight title picture to the bantamweight and women’s flyweight championship conversations.
At Noche UFC (UFC 306), an event set to celebrate Mexican Independance Day inside the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 14, reigning 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley will compete for the second time this year. After defeating Marlon Vera, “Sugar” will make his second defense of the gold in a long-awaited grudge match against top contender Merab Dvalishvili.
Ortega & Lopes Among Those Setting The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 30
Before O’Malley defends his championship and the promotion’s top female flyweights run it back again, a mix of veterans and prospects will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their positions on the major card.
That includes former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega and the up-and-coming Diego Lopes, who will give their matchup a second chance at making it to the Octagon. After a same-day withdrawal from “T-City” saw the Mexico-residing Brazilian face and defeat Dan Ige at International Fight Week instead, Lopes will have the opportunity to crack the top five in rearranged clash with Ortega.
Prior to that, highly touted Mexican prospects Daniel Zellhuber and Ronaldo Rodriguez will open the main card against Esteban Ribovics and Ode’ Osbourne, respectively, while notable names like Irena Aldana and Raul Rosas Jr. will feature on the prelims.
See below for the full UFC 306 card, as it stands.
Main Card:
Sean O’Malley (C) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight championship main event)
Alexa Grasso (C) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (flyweight championship co-main event)
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes (featherweight)
Daniel Zellhuber vs. Estaban Ribovics (lightweight)
Ronaldo Rodriguez vs. Ode’ Osbourne (flyweight)
Preliminary Card:
Manuel Torres vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (lightweight)
Irena Aldana vs. Norma Dumont (women’s bantamweight)
Edgar Cháirez vs. Kevin Borjas (flyweight)
Yazmin Jauregui vs. Ketlen Souza (women’s strawweight)
Mexican fan favorites Alexa Grasso and Diego Lopes will get their expected appearances at the high-profile Noche UFC event at the Sphere this Fall. After its successful inaugural celebration of Mexican Independence Day last September, Las Vegas will once again play host to the UFC’s festivities for the occasion in 2024, this time at a […]
Mexican fan favorites Alexa Grasso and Diego Lopes will get their expected appearances at the high-profile Noche UFC event at the Sphere this Fall.
After its successful inaugural celebration of Mexican Independence Day last September, Las Vegas will once again play host to the UFC’s festivities for the occasion in 2024, this time at a grander venue.
Instead of the T-Mobile Arena, this year’s iteration of Noche UFC will play out inside the Sphere in the form of UFC 306. Ever since vowing to stage the first live sporting event there, UFC CEO Dana White has promised a first-of-a-kind event that will leave the fanbase in awe.
And as the September 14 date fast approaches, the UFC 306 lineup has taken shape.
There will also be championship stakes in the co-headliner, as Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko complete their trilogy a year on from their Noche UFC main event concluding in a controversial draw.
Lopes, Grasso’s teammate and jiu-jitsu coach, also has a major assignment set for the Sphere. The rising featherweight was expected to feature on the card following his latest triumph at UFC 303 last month.
The Mexico-residing Brazilian got the better of Dan Ige in a same-day booking that came about following the late withdrawal of Brian Ortega due to illness.
For Noche UFC on Sept. 14, those two will attempt for their matchup to make it to the Octagon at the second time of trying, with the promotion opting to rebook Lopes against “T-City” despite talk of the former featherweight title challenger moving up in weight.
Joining those three fights on the main card will be two more Mexicans in Daniel Zellhuber and Ronaldo Rodriguez, who will share the cage with Esteban Ribovics and Ode’ Osbourne, respectively.
Meanwhile, you can check out the current fights expected to take place on the preliminary card below: