LAS VEGAS (AP) — An sickness compelled Brian Ortega to withdraw Saturday hours earlier than his scheduled struggle with Diego Lopes within the co-main occasion at UFC 303, and Dan Ige was referred to as in as a alternative and narrowly misplaced by choice.
All three judges scored the struggle 29-28 in favor Lopes (25-6).
“I’ve mentioned earlier than whoever, wherever, I’ll struggle anyone,” Lopes, a Brazilian, mentioned by way of an interpreter.
Ige (18-8) acquired a loud ovation from the group after his loss for his willingness to step in on brief discover.
“I used to be like, ‘Man, this a possibility to turn out to be a legend,’” Ige mentioned. “It is a story I’ll inform my grandkids. I’d like to (have gained), however man I couldn’t be happier.”
UFC President Dana White mentioned earlier than the bout that it doubtless would have been referred to as off if Ige hadn’t been out there.
“There would have been no different choices,” White mentioned.
The match is the warm-up bout to the principle occasion between mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka.
White mentioned Ortega was working a fever and wasn’t able to go on. Ige, who’s from Honolulu however trains in Las Vegas, already was on the town making ready for an additional struggle.
“It’s all about alternative,” White mentioned. “He jumped at it. Who’s hotter than Lopes proper now?”
White joked that Ige doubtless was sitting on his sofa about to order the pay-per-view when he obtained the decision.
Jeff Mullen, govt director of the Nevada Athletic Fee, instructed ESPN that as a result of Ige fought Feb. 10 in Las Vegas, that made the method smoother to get him accredited.
“We already had his medicals and all his necessities accomplished,” Mullen mentioned. “It was a wonderfully accredited matchup. I checked with the attorneys to ensure every little thing was so as.”
The Ortega-Lopes struggle itself was a alternative for a beforehand scheduled bout. Jamahal Hill needed to ask out of his match in opposition to Carlos Ulberg as a result of a knee harm in coaching.
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AP sports activities: https://apnews.com/sports activities