Look forward to Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopez at UFC 303. This may be the last time we see “T-City” compete at featherweight for a while.
Ortega is the latest fighter to step up to help UFC save its card, which is in jeopardy after Conor McGregor withdrew from the June 29 card on two weeks' notice. He'll face talented finishing machine Diego Lopez in the show's new co-main event.
The bout was a welcome one for the No. 3 featherweight contender, who has struggled to find competition and purpose at 145 pounds, so regardless of the outcome in Las Vegas, he plans to move up to 155 pounds for a while after the Lopez bout.
“I was told there were no opponents available to me in my weight class,” Ortega said in a new interview with MMA Junkie. “They didn't really want me to fight anyone, so I decided to move up to 155.” [We had an opponent]but I can't say. It could still happen. And I hope it does.”
It may seem odd for Ortega to abandon the featherweight division while at the top of the division, but he is quick to recognize the dead end of title contention.
“The way the fights are going, there's no title fight anytime soon,” Ortega said. “Max is guaranteed a title fight, and so is Volkanovski. So if Topuria fights, it's against Max. If Max wins, it's Max vs. Volkanovski 4, and it takes until next year. If Topuria wins, it's Topuria vs. Volkanovski 2, and I have to wait until next year.”
“So when I say the title fight isn't coming anytime soon, it's not because of the benefits they've made or the leaps and risks they've taken. Volk gave Islam two weeks' notice. [Makhachev]and to Max [Justin] Gaethje had a full camp, but he fought for the BMF belt. They were both just amazing. They all put in a lot of effort.”
“So to say I'm here now and that I deserve it is not true,” Ortega concluded. “Obviously, it's selfish and I've been chasing being a champion since I was a kid, but you have to accept reality and that's the reality of the game right now. It is what it is and it's what's ahead, so let's enjoy my career.”
Ortega vs. Lopez is definitely an entertaining fight, and a tough one according to the bookmakers. They have “T-City” as a very slight underdog at +130, and Lopez at -150, which is a bit shocking considering their respective resumes. Lopez is young and in good form, winning his last three bouts by first-round submission. Ortega is injury-prone, going 2-3 in his last five bouts, but those losses have come at the hands of the absolute best fighters at 145.
It will be exciting to see how Ortega beats Lopez and then who the UFC has in mind to face him at lightweight.
