TMZSports.com
Dan Ige was planning on watching UFC 303 like the remainder of us … on the sofa. However earlier than the principle card kicked off … he discovered himself strolling into the sector to take a struggle towards Diego Lopes on 4 hours discover — and he tells TMZ Sports activities he would do it another time!
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 driving the excessive of all the saga.
“The final 24 hours have been an emotional curler coaster,” he mentioned. “I used to be getting ready for an evening in three weeks. Then, simply getting the decision on 4 hours discover and making that stroll on such an enormous occasion, saving the cardboard, UFC 303 because the co-main occasion. 19,000 followers within the enviornment, getting a standing ovation. What a second, what a possibility.”
In the event you missed it, Brian Ortega was slated to struggle Lopes within the co-main occasion of UFC 303. Nevertheless, Ortega acquired sick the day of the struggle and needed to withdraw. Scrambling to salvage the struggle, the UFC known as the Las Vegas-based Ige to see if he might step in and struggle at 165 lbs.
A brief automobile trip later … the shortest of quick discover struggle was booked! Whereas Ige acknowledges that what he did was “cool and loopy,” he provides his props to Lopes for going by means of what he went by means of and nonetheless sticking on the cardboard.
“I learn the whole lot this child went by means of. He minimize right down to 145, he rehydrated to [1]55, after which his opponent will get sick and falls out. So, he is most likely pondering I am not even preventing. Then they drop my identify into the hat. Even after they supplied it to me, I used to be like, ‘This may’t even be actual.'”
The Thirteenth-ranked UFC featherweight mentioned they each walked out winners on the finish of the struggle — calling it an “wonderful spectacle.”
Ready to your permission to load the Instagram Media.
