Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega finally met, and the fast-rising Brazilian continued his rise to the top of the featherweight division. Lopes won the fight unanimously (30-27x2, 30-26). There was never really a doubt in this one. After controlling the first round, Lopes continued dominating the longtime featherweight contender. After nearly getting the finish in the first, Lopes came close again in the third, but Ortega survived. By the end of the fight, Ortega was badly bloodied, and his left leg was depleted from a consistent attack from Lopes via kicks. The win was a huge one for Lopes, who came into the fight ranked No. 12, and Ortega, who was ranked No. 3.

Lopes will be third when the new rankings are released on September 17. Because of his recent success, Lopes' next fight could be a shot at the UFC Featherweight Championship. The win over Ortega was the biggest of his career, and it would make sense for him to be the next challenger. However, things could be complicated at 145 pounds. Ilia Topuria is set to defend his title against Max Holloway at UFC 308. Longtime champion Alexander Volkanovski never got his rematch against Topuria, and he appears to be waiting in the wings. Does Lopes get a shot at the title before Volkanovski can regain his title? We'll see.

Ortega may have had his last fight at featherweight. He has struggled to reach 145 pounds and has faced and lost to all of the top fighters in the division. If Ortega is to continue his career, his next fights will likely take place at 155 pounds in the lightweight division. Here is a look at all of the results from Noche UFC.

Lopes' Dominating Performance

Diego Lopes was looking to make a statement in the featherweight division. And while he didn’t get a finish, despite looking like he was close to one, he can consider UFC 306 mission accomplished. Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) outworked former title challenger Brian Ortega (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) for a dominant unanimous decision sweep of the scorecards, including a 30-26, on the UFC 306 main card at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Lopes had Ortega hurt in the first round and poured it on. But with an opportunity to let Ortega back to his feet, the Brazilian chose to keep the fight on the canvas, in large part. That gave Ortega a chance to survive the first round once his leash got a little longer from referee Jason Herzog. But though Ortega kept himself in the fight and stayed largely out of imminent danger for the final 10 minutes, it was all Lopes for his fifth straight win to climb into contention in the UFC’s 145-pound division.

A Tale of Two Fighters

Brian Ortega — a seasoned fighter with a storied past — found himself in an unexpected position tonight (Sat., Sept. 14, 2024) when locked horns with red-hot Featherweight prospect, Diego Lopes, at UFC 306 from inside The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Having narrowly missed UFC’s Featherweight title, Ortega was viewed as a stepping stone for Lopes, a rising star who earned a big step up against “T-City” under unusual circumstances. Indeed, when Conor McGregor’s broken pinky toe triggered his removal from UFC 303 (seriously), Ortega and Lopes stepped up to save the event.

However, Ortega couldn’t cut the weight in time, leading to the fight’s postponement ... until now. Now, here they were — the stage was set for a clash of generations. Ortega, the veteran warrior, was fighting to preserve his legacy. Lopes, the hungry up-and-comer, is fighting for a brighter future. The stakes were high, and in the end, something had to give. And when the chaotic dust finally settled, it was youth over experience, with Lopes securing a very impressive unanimous decision win over a proven veteran.

Lopes got off to an incredible start, drilling Ortega with a beautiful combination that stunned “T-City.” He eventually landed on the ground along the cage as he retreated. Lopes took a deep breath, not looking to get too excited too fast. However, he played a dangerous game with Ortega on the ground for about a minute or so, allowing him to recover and play footsie off his back. Eventually, Lopes made the smart decision and let him return to his feet, blood dripping from his left eye. Ortega, though, actually seemed to get the better of the exchanges early, with Lopes ducking under a left cross and landing a solid counter combination as the opening frame came to a close.

Ortega's Struggles

Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes faced off in a highly anticipated lightweight fight at UFC 306 at The Sphere on Saturday. The pairing had originally been set for UFC 303 back in June, only for Ortega to be forced out of the bout at the 11th hour and famously replaced by Dan Ige just hours before the fight transpired. Dana White went on to promise both Lopes and Ige spots on The Sphere card, though ultimately only Lopes would get to take part. Lopes rocked Ortega badly in the first 30 seconds and slammed him down. Lopes began dropping shots through Ortega’s guard, opening a bad gash on his eye. Ortega recovered well and began to find his strikes, but Lopes was landing much cleaner.

Lopes caught Ortega again early in the second round, briefly stunning him. Both fighters were trading shots, but nothing concussive. Ortega was showing clear improvements in his striking in the second round, he did a very good job of checking Lopes’ leg kicks and landing his jab. Tied going into the third round, according to social media. Lopes and Ortega were trading big shots in the pocket in the first two minutes of the final round. Ortega’s jab was on fire throughout this fight. Lopes wobbled and dropped Ortega with 30 seconds left, took his back, slipped off, and threw it down until the final bell. Lopes could be next for the title. Does he beat Max Holloway or Ilia Topuria? The concern for some fans would be Lopes’ cardio. He seems to slow down after a round, most times because he has a big start and chases the finish. Against the likes of Max Holloway, with that iron chin of his, might we see a more patient Diego Lopes?

A New Era Begins

Diego Lopes' Last 5 Results Before the Win over Ortega Brian Ortega's Last Results Before Loss to Diego Lopes Official Result: Diego Lopes def. Brian Ortega by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)