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Diego Lopes popped up in the comment section of an Instagram post showcasing Brian Ortega's injuries from their Noche UFC 306 bout. The two men squared off in what turned out to be an action-packed brawl, albeit a lopsided one, as Lopes proved superior in every facet of MMA.
He rocked and dropped 'T-City' early and even managed to outgrapple him, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, throughout their three-round affair. While a finish eluded him, the Brazilian won via unanimous decision. Despite the loss, Ortega took to Instagram with a picture of battered face and a positive caption.
The post drew the attention of Lopes, who maintained the positivity by thanking Ortega, a two-time UFC title challenger, for giving him the opportunity to fight him. More importantly, he sent his well-wishes to 'T-City' along with a hug.
"Thanks for the fight brother. Sending you a hug, wishing you the best always"
Ortega responded to the classy comment with a prayer emoji and little else. The win led to Lopes' rapid ascension on the featherweight ladder, where he is now ranked No.3, below only former champions Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, and likely in title contention.
Meanwhile, Ortega's days as a title contender at featherweight are likely done. He is 1-3 in his last four fights, injury-prone, and somewhat inactive. Moreover, he is a step below the best in the division, having just lost to Lopes in dominant fashion and failing in two attempts at capturing a featherweight title.
Diego Lopes was initially scheduled to face Brian Ortega at UFC 303
While the pair's bout ultimately took place at Noche UFC 306, Diego Lopes was previously scheduled to face Brian Ortega at UFC 303. Unfortunately, illness prevented 'T-City' from competing. Initially set for a featherweight clash, Ortega's struggles with cutting weight led to the weight class being changed.
The two were thereafter headed for a lightweight clash, only for Ortega's weight-cutting issues to worsen, leading to his removal from the card. He was replaced by Dan Ige on just a few hours notice, who took on the Brazilian in a valiant but losing effort.
