In a surprising development, Brian Ortega was compelled to withdraw mere hours before his scheduled co-main event bout with Diego Lopes at UFC 303 due to illness. This unforeseen turn of events led to the emergence of Dan Ige as the replacement, thereby salvaging the highly anticipated matchup.
UFC President Dana White expressed his gratitude for Ige’s readiness to step in at the eleventh hour, stating that there would have been no other recourse had Ige not been available to fill in. The fight served as the precursor to the main event featuring light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka.
White expounded that Ortega was plagued by a fever and was unfit to compete. Conversely, Ige, who hails from Honolulu but trains in Las Vegas, was already in town preparing for another fight, rendering him an ideal replacement.
“It’s all about opportunity,” White remarked. “He jumped at it. Who’s hotter than Lopes right now?” He even light-heartedly commented that Ige was likely moments away from ordering the pay-per-view when he received the call to step in.
In an interview with ESPN, Jeff Mullen, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, divulged that Ige’s recent fight in Las Vegas on February 10th facilitated the process of approving him as a replacement.
“We had already obtained his medicals and all his prerequisites,” Mullen explained. “It was an entirely approved matchup. I consulted with the attorneys to confirm that everything was in order.”
The expeditious and seamless approval process ensured that the co-main event fight could progress as planned, much to the relief of fighters and fans alike.
This turn of events serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of the fight game and the need for fighters to be prepared for any opportunity that may arise. It also exemplifies the stringent approval processes in place to ensure the safety and readiness of all fighters entering the Octagon.
For further sports news and updates, please visit the official AP sports website at https://apnews.com/sports.