Dan Ige accepted a co-main event fight against Diego Lopes at UFC 303 with only a few hours’ notice after Brian Ortega dropped out, resulting in an unprecedented and highly challenging bout for both fighters.
Hundreds of fighters have taken short-notice fights. For some, short-notice means a few weeks. For others, it means a few days.
For Dan Ige, it meant a couple of hours.
At UFC 303, Ige accepted a co-main event matchup against rising star Diego Lopes without any training camp or preparation, much less any time to actually put together a strategy.
On the other side, Lopes had to endure a roller-coaster ride of his own. After accepting a featherweight bout against Brian Ortega just two weeks prior, Lopes found out less than 48 hours before fight night that the two-time title challenger couldn’t make the 145-pound limit. The fighters agreed to compete at lightweight instead, but by Saturday afternoon, Lopes lost Ortega as an opponent.
How exactly did all this come together, culminating in the shortest-notice fight in UFC history? This particular story actually starts one day earlier.
Friday, June 28: 3:30 a.m. PT
Fast asleep and already on weight at 146 pounds, Lopes, his coaches, and his manager start receiving a flurry of calls to inform them that Ortega can’t make the featherweight limit. Weigh-ins are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. local time.
Upon learning the news, Lopes’ coaches try to get in touch with his manager Jason House, who resides in Las Vegas. But due to the late hour? No reply. So the team actually travels to his house to inform him what was happening.
“I had already made weight at 11 p.m. the night before,” Lopes said on The MMA Hour. “So by that time when Jason woke me up… I was already on weight. I never doubted fighting.” It was like: ‘OK, I’ll fight at whatever weight.’
“It was just a process of changing my diet and working with my nutritionist because I had already gone down to [145 pounds]. Kind of getting me back up to [155 pounds].”
Lopes already has a bad feeling something like this might happen after sharing a few moments with Ortega on stage during the pre-fight press conference.
“It’s funny,” he revealed. “I had talked to my nutritionist and said I really feel like he wasn’t going to make weight.” He continued: “I feel like I’m seeing him in a different head space.” They kind of had that feeling.
After the fight is changed to lightweight bout… Lopes faces off with Ortega at ceremonial weigh-ins just hours later; once again there’s that bad feeling.
“I had seen him and he just looked different,” Lopes said. “Obviously we didn’t know what happened was going happen but definitely felt something was off.”
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Saturday June 29: approximately 3:45 p.m PT
With only hours until his fight…Lopes is chilling out watching early prelims at UFC303 when he gets another call from promoters.
“They inform him that Ortega fell ill and is unable compete,” Before digesting shocking news? UFC brass mention possibility securing extremely late-notice replacement.
“I was at house watching second fight night got call,” Lopes said.
“That’s when they really decided this is plan.”
Saturday June29:4pm PT
A day earlier Dan Ige training usual hard strength conditioning workout morning followed grappling session.
On Saturday goes through another workout part training camp routine closer scheduled fight Chepe Mariscal July20.
Ige then goes home spend time family connects massage therapist help recover hard week work.
“I’m preparing for my fight July20 basically go home recovery Monday,”
“I call massage therapist works whole family wife kids working kids first hop table asks how long wanted did like90minutes hour half deep tissue massage listening spa music zenned out literally getting deep tissue would never do before recovering getting ready Monday.”
“My wife comes up towards tail end massage she’s Ali[Abdelaziz] calling me doesn’t manage manage myself look phone missed calls Hunter[Campbell] Ali right around4pm telling calls phone answer Brother talk anyone No talking about Brother Ortega’s out.”
At moment thinks perhaps shift July20 card new opponent originally scheduled face Joanderson Brito suffered injury replaced Mariscal turns Abdelaziz isn’t calling offer July20
“He’s Tonight” Can tonight?
“Yes didn’t even think possible done weigh-ins yesterday dead serious happen done done alright back packing bags80-90percent Oh shit What’s weight164165 about.”
Within minutes closes deal bout agreement approval signature
“Boom contract email paid happy didn’t read weight165-pound catchweight reading gotta go venue”
Same time gets offer blink either
“When called immediately option knew real thing worry approved commission preparing easy pending commission”
Saturday June29:4:22pm PT
No spare immediately calls head coach Eric Nicksick Xtreme Couture informs fighting few hours303
No discuss good idea accepted isn’t question happening Luckily coaching plans corner teammate Roman Dolidze Anthony Smith
“Hey fighting OK ask say anything You got hang phone”
“Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Jeff Mullen calls minute honest opinion fighter ready realistically possible wholeheartedly son situation danger fantasizes moments opportunity four featherweight fights card write case somebody falls cutting edge always ready rings able answer call”
Hanging Mullen assuring ready turns wife says This f*cking legends moments reaches coaches rapid-fire research notes prepares meet head T-Mobile Arena
Minutes later jumps car start calling find cornermen first reaches PFL Kai Kamaka cornered Friday Sioux Falls S.D frequently works gym
Another coaches doesn’t answer knows exactly who call
Called Kai Kamaka Yo meet Silverado Ranch Las Vegas30minutes Didn’t ask question What bring Bring gear problem Hangs shoots text What’s going Can’t talk see Shell station corner That’s went down Picked Sean Strickland Where lunch Meet arena hour fighting On motorbike security bet hung live shit
Saturday June29 :5 pm PT strong >
By underway still certain against Despite agreement cleared apparently Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo involved approve unusual request sends message Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell promising more ready take couple prepared winMinutes team arrive T-Mobile Arena express gratitude taking immediately rushed backstage weigh-in walk scale commission heard approved governor text posted texting great shape liability lying great shape rock take scale real weigh-in strip Hold use bathroom use boom164 .5 thank God! knew weigh-in Once hits mark official Made official fought wild By call venue wrapping hands two hours later