TMZSports.com
Dan Ige was planning on watching UFC 303 like the remainder of us … on the sofa. However earlier than the primary card kicked off … he discovered himself strolling into the sector to take a battle towards Diego Lopes on 4 hours discover — and he tells TMZ Sports activities he would do it over again!
We spoke with the 32-year-old fighter days after he saved the day for the UFC on its marquee card for Worldwide Battle Week. Ige mentioned he’s nonetheless using the excessive of the whole saga.
“The last 24 hours have been an emotional roller coaster,” he mentioned. “I was preparing for a night in three weeks. Then, just getting the call on four hours notice and making that walk on such a huge event, saving the card, UFC 303 as the co-main event. 19,000 fans in the arena, getting a standing ovation. What a moment, what an opportunity.”
When you missed it, Brian Ortega was slated to battle Lopes within the co-main occasion of UFC 303. Nonetheless, Ortega obtained sick the day of the battle and needed to withdraw. Scrambling to salvage the battle, the UFC referred to as the Las Vegas-based Ige to see if he may step in and battle at 165 lbs.
A brief automotive experience later … the shortest of brief discover battle was booked! Whereas Ige acknowledges that what he did was “cool and crazy,” he provides his props to Lopes for going via what he went via and nonetheless sticking on the cardboard.
“I read everything this kid went through. He cut down to 145, he rehydrated to [1]55, and then his opponent gets sick and falls out. So, he’s probably thinking I’m not even fighting. Then they drop my name into the hat. Even when they offered it to me, I was like, ‘This can’t even be real.'”
The Thirteenth-ranked UFC featherweight mentioned they each walked out winners on the finish of the battle — calling it an “amazing spectacle.”
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Whereas he has no regrets about all of it, Ige would get pleasure from working it again towards the #14 ranked featherweight Lopes with time to organize — with an eye fixed in direction of the UFC Mexican Independence Day card on the Sphere!
“Let’s do it fair,” Ige mentioned. We’ll each reduce to 145, we’ll each put together, we’ll each sport plan for one another, and we’ll see what occurs. That was an in depth battle; he had his moments, and I had my moments, and I completed sturdy. We are able to make it 5 rounds!”
Signal us up for spherical two!!!
