Henry Cejudo unsure Diego Lopes would be ready for Brian Ortega after UFC 303

farah hannoun

Tue, 2 Jul 2024, 9:40 am·10-min read

Henry Cejudo has his doubts on Diego Lopes after UFC 303.

Lopes (25-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was scheduled to face Brian Ortega in a lightweight bout in this past Saturday’s co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but Ortega fell ill on the night of the fight. Dan Ige stepped in on four hours’ notice to face Lopes, who won the fight by unanimous decision.

Lopes won the first two rounds, but Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC) was able to rally in Round 3. Lopes called for his fight against Ortega to be rebooked for UFC 306, but after watching his performance against Ige, Cejudo would rather see Lopes slowly climb up the ranks.

“I’m not too sure if Diego Lopes would really be ready for a guy like Brian Ortega,” Cejudo said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “Was I impressed? A little bit, but the more film that they now have and the more you’re able to watch him fight other top contenders, the guys that have been ranked in the top 15, top 10 …

“I think Diego Lopes needs to slow down and continue to keep taking a lot of these other fighters in order for him to really catch a guy in the top 10, or even top 5. We have to remember, too, Brian Ortega is No. 3. I think he’s still growing, in that sense. Continue to keep fighting guys that are at his level to eventually then go after a dude like a Brian Ortega.”

Lopes had a lot to deal with on fight week. He first agreed for his fight with Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) to shift from featherweight to lightweight, to then accepting a completely different style opponent on just hours’ notice at 165 pounds.

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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