The UFC had to dig deep after losing Conor McGregor to headline UFC 303. Like UFC 295, when Jon Jones pulled out, Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka stepped in to save UFC 303. However, it was insufficient, as the PPV needed an exciting co-main event. Dana White and Hunter Campbell didn’t disappoint, announcing Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega as the co-main. Alex Grasso, the former flyweight champion, seems excited about the fight.
Ortega vs. Lopes Bout Promises Aggressive Showdown
Grasso is the only active Mexican champion in the UFC. She is currently coaching The Ultimate Fighter Season 32 opposite Valentina Shevchenko. The Mexican is close with Lopes, her BJJ coach. Although Lopes was born Brazilian, he is a resident of Pueblo, Mexico, and represents both nations. On the other hand, Ortega is Mexican-American, making the matchup against Lopes more exciting.
The matchup promises to be exciting, with Alexander Volkanovski even picking it to win the Fight of the Night bonus. Interestingly, Grasso also seems to share the same opinion. “I think that Diego and Brian are like the perfect match because they are pretty similar, you know? They both have amazing jiu-jitsu. They are both aggressive; they’re always going for the fight,” Grasso said of the matchup.
“They’re always going forward; they don’t leave anything. So it’s exciting for me to watch. You know, my coach and my teammate fight Brian, who is someone I’ve been watching for so long. And, of course, the fans love this fight. These guys will give everything they have till the bell rings,” Alexa Grasso added, revealing the reason for her excitement.
Ortega recently revealed how the matchup against Lopes came to be. Moreover, he had revealed his original plan to move to lightweight for a fight on UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere. As a two-time title challenger in the division, Ortega felt he had a long road ahead for a third crack at the featherweight title.
Also Read UFC 303 Predictions: Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes Preview and Picks
