Dana White ready to reward Diego Lopes, Dan Ige with spots on Sphere card after saving UFC 303 co-main

farah hannoun and ken hathaway

Mon, 1 Jul 2024, 4:20 pm·10-min read

LAS VEGAS – UFC CEO Dana White will grant Diego Lopes and Dan Ige their wishes of competing at the Sphere.

With Brian Ortega unable to compete in this past Saturday’s co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas due to illness, Ige stepped in on four hours’ notice to face Lopes (25-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC). Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC) rallied in Round 3 but wound up losing a unanimous decision in a valiant effort.

White lauded both fighters for accepting to fight. Before Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) was ruled out, Lopes already accepted for their fight to shift from featherweight to lightweight.

“When you have guys like Diego – the guys that were involved in the co-main event tonight are just absolute studs,” White told reporters at the UFC 303 post-fight press conference. “Think about this: Diego gets the call, he’s (Ortega) not going to make weight, ‘No problem, I’ll take the fight.’ That right there is already mentally challenging. … How many guys don’t accept the fight and don’t do it.

“Then he gets the call that he’s (Ortega) out, and we want to put somebody else in, and he accepts the fight. And it’s a completely different style than what he trained for, and he still takes the fight. The guy he was supposed to fight was ranked in the top three. This guy’s (Ige) like one above him. The mental challenges that were thrown at this kid.”

Lopes suggested his fight with Ortega get rebooked Sept. 14 at UFC 306 from the Sphere. Ige also called for a spot on the card, and White is happy to oblige.

“You couldn’t have two bigger studs than these two guys tonight,” White added. “Incredible. I do. I’ll do anything for these guys. So yeah.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Diego Lopes UFC 303 press conference

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Diego Lopes UFC 303 press conference

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Diego Lopes UFC 303 press conference

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Diego Lopes - UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Diego Lopes (blue gloves) prepares to fight Dan Ige…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Diego Lopes (blue gloves) prepares to fight Dan Ige (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (not pictured)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Diego Lopes def. Dan Ige, UFC 303 1 (Per)

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MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

image

gallery

MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves)…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) fights Diego Lopes (blue gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Diego Lopes def. Dan Ige, UFC 303 2 (UFC)

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MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Diego Lopes (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Dan Ige…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Diego Lopes (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Dan Ige (red gloves) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 303 - Ige vs Lopes

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) shakes hands with Diego Lopes…

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dan Ige (red gloves) shakes hands with Diego Lopes (blue gloves) after losing during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Diego Lopes def. Dan Ige, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie

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