“I struggled with my own ego,” Brian Ortega breaks silence after last-minute pull out at UFC 303 event

Brian Ortega pulled out at the last minute from his fight against Diego Lopes at UFC 303.

“I struggled with my own ego,” Brian Ortega breaks silence after last-minute pull out at UFC 303 event

Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes (via Imago)

The UFC 303 was supposed to be one of the most electrifying events of the year. However, things didn’t go as planned. Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochaka had to replace Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler for the main event. Moreover, Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes had to replace Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg for the co-main event.

Interestingly, Ortega struggled with the weight cut and couldn’t gain weight before the fight. He fell ill and had to pull out a few hours before the fight. Dan Ige stepped up on short notice to fill in for Brian Ortega. The featherweight fighter was gutted by his inability to meet everyone’s expectations. Last night he took to his social media to express how he was feeling about it.

I struggled with my own ego, got on a call with Tiki and Hunter, and I made the decision to call off the fight. I dared to do something crazy for the love of fighting, but I got sick and my body gave out on me.
Brian Ortega on Instagram

Brian Ortega is considered one of the top fighters in the featherweight division. For newcomers in the division like Diego Lopes, fighting against higher-ranked opponents holds great value. However, unforeseen circumstances can affect both fighters. MMA is a demanding sport, and weight cuts can be a challenging process for athletes.

FS Video

This is not the first time a fight has been called off due to weight-cutting issues. Following Brian Ortega’s disappointment, he understood the struggle Diego Lopes had gone through to make weight. Ortega even promised to make it right for Lopes by offering him a fight in the future.

Lopes shares his thoughts on Ortega’s last-minute pull-out

The co-main event at the UFC 303 was a significant opportunity for Diego Lopes to advance his career. However, complications during the weight cut did not work in his favor. Brian Ortega’s issues with the weight-cutting process changed the course of events for Lopes. If it hadn’t been for Dan Ige stepping in to fight Lopes, the co-main event might have been called off.

Diego Lopes reveals insider details leading to UFC 303
Diego Lopes (via Imago)

Despite the uncertainties, Diego Lopes was aware of the unpredictable nature of fights. During his post-fight press conference, Lopes was asked whether he harbored any animosity or frustration towards Ortega for pulling out of the fight.

No not at all, all the respect for Brian. I heard from his camp that he actually tried till the last minute to make weight and I understand that he was unable to make it. I hope he is good in health and I have absolutely hate towards him.
Diego Lopes at the UFC 303 Post-fight press conference
YouTube video

These uncertain complexities are part of this beautiful sport. Ortega wants to be fair to Lopes. Considering their fight story, the UFC may want to arrange their fight soon.

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