Breaking: UFC 303’s cursed co-headliner switched mid-broadcast in shocking turn of events

In an unprecedented event, Brian Ortega has been removed from his co-main event clash with Diego Lopes later tonight (Sat., June 29, 2024) at UFC 303 LIVE on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Featherweight veteran Dan Ige will fill in for a ridiculous co-main event mashup.

MMA journalist, Ariel Helwani, reported the potential change midway through UFC 303’s “Prelims” undercard. About 30 minutes later, UFC play-by-play announcer Jon Anik made the official announcement.

“UFC is trying to book Dan Ige x Diego Lopes tonight, I’m told. It’s not 100% yet.

Ortega is on the verge of having to withdraw. He is sick, sources say.

The plan would be a 165-pound catchweight fight, if it gets over the line.

Ige would have to weigh in tonight.

I honestly have never heard of anything like this before considering he didn’t weigh in yesterday.

Developing.”

Remember, Ortega vs. Lopes was booked just two weeks ago in effort to soften the blow from Conor McGregor’s injury and subsequent exit from UFC 303’s main event. A light heavyweight title fight between champion Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka was quickly booked as the new headliner for International Fight Week, but Ortega vs. Lopes was brought together to keep the buzz even higher.

Ortega was coming off a second-round submission finish over Yair Rodriguez back in February, while Lopes has won his last three trips to the Octagon by knockout or submission. The featherweight clash, which turned into a lightweight clash, was expected to produce Fight of the Night action. UFC CEO Dana White even offered an extra Fight of the Night bonus because of Ortega.

It’s a bummer to see Ortega pull out with an illness with just hours to go, but at least Ige was standby to pull off one of the biggest saves in recent memory. Fight fans are loving Lopes right now so to remove him from the card (in addition to Ortega) would have been a true killer. UFC officials pulled it off yet again and crossed off all legal boxes to ensure Ige was able to compete.

Ige’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, posted the following message earlier Saturday night, leading fight fans to believe the fight was a done deal. Kudos to all parties for getting this fight done.

“Remember, we’re the guys you call when you run out of ideas,” wrote Nicksick.

Here is the reaction from Ige once the fight was made official:

UFC officials announced the co-main event change to the fight fans in attendance at UFC 303 and Ige received a pretty good pop. Check it out below:

For complete UFC 303 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.