Las Vegas – UFC featherweight Diego Lopes had the longest fight week of all time, seemingly, but he got the job done taking a decision victory over Dan Ige at UFC 303 on Saturday night.
“I told you yesterday. Anyone. Anytime. Anywhere. No problem,” Lopes told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight press conference.
Lopes (25-6) was originally scheduled to face Brian Ortega in the co-main event of UFC 303. The first issue came when Ortega informed the UFC he would not make 145 pounds. Lopes had already cut down to featherweight, agreed to fight at 155, and made lightweight on Friday.
Then on Saturday night, just hours into the event, the UFC pulled Ortega. “T-City” had been sick and dealing with a high fever since Friday night and had not gotten any better. In one of the most BMF moves of all time Dan Ige stepped in on 3-hours notice to fight in the co-main event of a PPV.
“It was a big change. We’re fighting a guy who’s an amazing grappler that also’s got a heavy hand, but not as heavy as the guy that we were put on to fight,” Lopes told reporters through a translator.
“We’re talking about a guy who’s explosive, who’s aggressive, he can knock you out. So what do my coaches do? Within those 2-3 hours they basically started watching all of his fights and they started taking care of that plan.”
With the win secured Lopes looks ahead and demands that respect be put on his name.
“I think with everything that happened in the last 48 hours I think people need to put some respect on my name,” he said.
“I think I’m ready to fight anyone in the top 5.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Diego Lopes above.
