Dan Ige competes in co-main event against Diego Lopes

Don’t worry, Dan Ige (and Diego Lopes) saved the day.

On just hours’ notice, Ige (18-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) entered the co-main event of UFC 303, in what could be the shortest-notice fight of the modern era of promotion.

Not even expected to compete on the card, Ige now faces Lopes (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in Saturday’s event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Ige replaces Brian Ortega, who withdrew from the fight due to illness. The fight will take place at a weight of 165 pounds. Ige weighed in at 164.5 pounds, as shown in ESPN’s preliminary broadcast. Lopes, despite being signed to fight at 145 pounds, was moved up to 155…and now to 165.

The change was announced shortly before the main card aired.

Several parties involved, including both fighters, Ige’s trainer, Eric Nicksick, of Xtreme Couture, and Lopes’ manager, Jason House, of Iridium Sports Agency, cryptically hinted at the change in advance .

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Jeff Mullen told ESPN that the proper channels were followed before the fight was sanctioned.

“Luckily, Dan Ige, who is the 14th ranked candidate, is here in town,” Mullen said. “He was already fired. He fought here in February and won by first-round knockout. We had already passed all his medical exams and fulfilled all his requirements, so he was available. They fought. He’s ranked 14th and Diego is 15th, so it’s a perfect match – a perfectly approvable match. And once again, we had everything. I checked with our lawyers, made sure everything was in order. …Plus, he was already training for a fight on July 20, so he was prepared and ready to go.

The initial match between Lopes and Ortega was booked on short notice and originally scheduled for featherweight. He moved up to lightweight before Friday’s official weigh-ins due to Ortega’s inability to make weight.

So you want to become a BMF? #UFC303

— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) June 29, 2024

Remember, we’re the guys you call when you’re out of ideas. #UFC303 #HOTDROP pic.twitter.com/HMM8Y9NBwm

— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) June 30, 2024

With this change, the UFC 303 fight card includes:

• Champion Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka
• Dan Ige vs Diego Lopes
• Anthony Smith vs Roman Dolidze
• Mayra Bueno Silva vs Macy Chiasson
• Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page
• Marc-André Barriault vs. Joe Pyfer
• Andre Fili vs. Cub Swanson
• Jean Silva def. Charles Jourdain by KO (punch) – Round 2, 1:22
• Payton Talbott defeated Yanis Ghemmouri by KO (punches) – Round 1, 0:19
• Gillian Robertson defeated Michelle Waterson-Gomez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Martin Buday def. Andrei Arlovski by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Rei Tsuruya def. Carlos Hernandez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Vinicius Oliveira def. Ricky Simon by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s UFC 303 Event Hub.