Dan Ige did the unimaginable at UFC 303 this previous weekend (June 29, 2024).
Blended martial arts (MMA) followers across the globe anticipated to see Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes in an thrilling Featherweight co-main occasion showdown heading into Worldwide Combat Week 2024. Sadly for Ortega, that each one modified on the newest second potential.
The 2-time title challenger, Ortege, fell in poor health on battle day, forcing his withdrawal that led to arguably the craziest battle scramble in UFC historical past. On 4 hours’ discover, the promotion dialed up fellow ranked Featherweight, Ige, and miraculously slotted him into the match up with Lopes. Regardless of dropping a enjoyable three-round unanimous choice on the judges’ scorecard, Ige’s total inventory solely elevated.
“For no recreation planning, nothing, simply going on the market and having enjoyable and combating, I assumed I did fairly effectively,” Ige informed MMA Junkie. “In a approach, it felt like I gained. I gained lots of notoriety, I gained followers, I obtained UFC favor, and it feels good. You don’t usually really feel like this after a loss on a Tuesday, however the quantity of simply love and respect that I obtained from folks, followers, the media, right here we’re, man. What a fricking wild evening.”
Earlier than Ige’s heroics, he was anticipated to return later this month in Las Vegas (July 20, 2024). Amid his typical restoration routines, Ige recalled protecting his telephone silent earlier than calls shifted to his spouse as his supervisor and UFC CBO, Hunter Campbell, rang him 10 occasions.
When knowledgeable of the happenings and battle proposal, Ige didn’t even imagine it was potential to step in. In the end, he scrambled to get some vitality via some fast eats and water consumption earlier than taking off to the world and making the 165-pound Catchweight restrict. Don’t count on to see one thing like this once more anytime quickly if ever.
“My therapeutic massage therapist was at my home, she labored on my entire household, I used to be the final one,” Ige stated. “I obtained on the desk round 3 p.m. I had an hour and a half booked, and I had no clue I’d be combating.
“I used to be simply preparing for Monday, recovering and preparing for Sunday after which Monday as a result of I used to be preparing for a battle [on July 20], so I used to be simply getting my physique proper,” he concluded.
To take a look at the newest and biggest UFC 303: “Pereira vs. Prochazka 2” information and notes make sure you hit up our complete occasion archive proper right here.
