Diego Lopes will look to capitalize on an enormous alternative at UFC 303.
Lopes (23-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) meets Brian Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in a featherweight bout June 29 at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, which streams on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
Ortega marks a giant leap up in competitors for Lopes, however the fan favourite explains that he was the one one keen to face Ortega on brief discover, after the promotion scrambled to avoid wasting UFC 303 with Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler scrapped.
“I do know individuals will complain as a result of I’m the 14th-ranked (featherweight),” Lopes instructed ESPN Deportes. “I do know the UFC provided the battle to different fighters who’re within the rankings and don’t have a battle. I do know they didn’t take it in order that they referred to as me, and so they knew that I used to be going to take the largest battle of my profession towards No. 3 on the earth.”
Lopes sees excessive stakes with a win over former multiple-time title challenger Ortega. If he can proceed his ending spree, the 29-year-old thinks he might catapult himself into title rivalry.
“Ortega has been within the UFC for years. His losses got here towards champions, so I see this as a golden alternative in my palms to take a step ahead within the division,” Lopes stated. “I believe the probabilities are actually massive (to get a title shot with a win).
“Think about if I defeat Ortega and see how the rankings change – I’ll be actually excessive within the rankings. Definitely, I’ll be within the dialog to be subsequent in line. Extra if I win in a stable method like I completed the final ones, I consider there’s little doubt that I’ll deserve a title shot.”
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