UFC 303 results: Diego Lopes beats ballsy Dan Ige in impromptu co-main event

Less than five hours before he stepped in the cage Saturday, Dan Ige had no clue he’d be fighting in front of 20,000 people that same night.

While Ige’s surprise entry into the UFC 303 co-main event will forever be known as something of a legend, the history books will show Diego Lopes was the victor by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

The argument could be made there were no losers, however. Ige (18-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC) replaced an ill Brian Ortega four hours before the event. A special weigh-in was held before the bout was contested at 165 pounds at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

When Lopes (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) showed off powerful striking in Round 1 before he dragged the fight to the canvas with submission attempts. Round 2 was more of the same as Ige struggled to get the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt off him.

In Round 3, however, Ige came on strong. His cardio went further than Lopes’, who seemed to wear down as the round progressed. Ige got on top of Lopes toward the end of the fight and landed a few ground-and-pound shots before the bell.

After the fight, the combatants embraced and walked over to UFC CEO Dana White. During their in-cage interviews, both men called for a spot on the upcoming UFC 306 card at Sphere in Las Vegas.

With the victory, Lopes continues his tear through the promotion’s pack of top-ranked featherweights. Prior to Saturday’s win, he finished Sodiq Yusuff by an 89-second TKO at UFC 300.

Ige had a three-fight winning streak snapped with the defeat. Prior to his acceptance of Saturday’s co-main event, Ige was in preparation for a July 20 bout vs. Jose Marsical.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 303 results include:

Diego Lopes def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Roman Dolidze def. Anthony Smith via via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Macy Chiasson def. Mayra Bueno Silva via TKO (doctor’s stoppage, cut) – Round 2, 1:58
Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page
Joe Pyfer def. Marc-Andre Barriault via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:25
Andre Fili def. Cub Swanson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jean Silva def. Charles Jourdain via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 1:22
Payton Talbott def. Yanis Ghemmouri via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:19
Gillian Robertson def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Martin Buday def. Andrei Arlovski via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Rei Tsuruya def. Carlos Hernandez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Vinicius Oliveira def. Ricky Simon via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Vinicius Oliveira – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Ricky Simon vs. Vinicius Oliveira – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Vinicius Oliveira def. Ricky Simon, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Rei Tsuruya – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Carlos Hernandez vs. Rei Tsuruya – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Rei Tsuruya def. Carlos Hernandez, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Martin Buday – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Martin Buday def. Andrei Arlovski, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Gillian Robertson – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Gillian Robertson vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Gillian Robertson def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Payton Talbott – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Payton Talbott def. Yanis Ghemmouri, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Jean Silva – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Jean Silva def. Charles Jourdain, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Andre Fili – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Andre Fili def. Cub Swanson, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Joe Pyfer – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Joe Pyfer def. Marc-Andre Barriault Scorecard

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Ian Machado Garry – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page

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Ian Machado Garry def. Michael Page, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Macy Chiasson – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson

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Macy Chiasson def. Mayra Bueno Silva, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Roman Dolidze – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

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Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Smith – UFC 303 ceremonial weigh-ins

Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze

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Roman Dolidze def. Anthony Smith, UFC 303 Scorecard

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Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie

First appeared on sports.yahoo.com

UFC 303 results: Diego Lopes beats ballsy Dan Ige in impromptu co-main event

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