In a late-notice addition to the UFC 303 fight card, former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega will face off against fast-rising Diego Lopes in the co-main event. Ortega, ranked No. 3 in the UFC’s featherweight rankings, is coming off a stoppage win over Yair Rodriguez, while Lopes, ranked No. 14, scored a TKO victory over Sodiq Yusuff. Both fighters are looking to continue their momentum in this matchup, which was officially added to the June 29 event on June 13.
The UFC 303 event is set to take place on Saturday, June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card will be streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view, with prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+. The Ortega vs. Lopes fight will serve as the co-main event of the evening, adding excitement to an already highly anticipated fight card.
Brian Ortega, with a record of 16-3-0-1, made his UFC debut in July 2014 and has since had an impressive career. He has earned five “Fight of the Night” bonuses and three “Performance of the Night” awards. Ortega’s most recent fight was against Yair Rodriguez, which he won by submission. Diego Lopes, on the other hand, has a record of 24-6 and is 3-1 in the UFC. Lopes has three fight-night bonus awards to his name in his four-fight UFC career.
Betting odds for the Ortega vs. Lopes matchup initially favored Ortega, but Lopes has since become the favorite according to Draft Kings. Ortega lands an average of 4.07 significant strikes per minute, while Lopes is a more accurate striker with a 58% accuracy rate. Lopes must pace himself and not get too excited if he hurts Ortega, as his best chance of winning may be by decision.
In terms of prediction, Ortega’s durability and high-level grappling skills make him a tough opponent to finish. Lopes will need to pace himself and avoid getting too excited if he lands strikes on Ortega. The betting pick is for Lopes to win by decision. With both fighters coming off impressive wins and looking to climb the UFC featherweight rankings, this co-main event is sure to deliver an exciting and competitive fight for fans to enjoy.
