Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes Odds: Lopes Given 57% Chance To Beat Ortega at UFC 303
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes Odds: Lopes Given 57% Chance To Beat Ortega at UFC 303
UFC 303 got turned upside down last week, as Conor McGregor was forced to withdraw from his main event fight against Michael Chandler. The co-main event between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. was also scratched in the build-up to this one, leaving UFC brass in a tough spot to make this one as exciting as they could.Â
On paper, they have succeeded, as the UFC 303 PPV is now headlined by a rematch of light heavyweight killers Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka. Getting glossed over by that terrific main event, the co-main event in this one also has the making of a great fight, as Brian Ortega takes on Diego Lopes in a pivotal featherweight matchup.
ORTEGA VS. LOPES DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: June 29th, 2024,
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: PPV
Click here for the latest Ortega vs. Lopes odds
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes Odds
When the betting got started for this featherweight clash just last week, Lopes was listed as a -150 favorite with Ortega sitting closer to +124. Since then, we’ve seen the money come in on Lopes, who now sits at -135 with Ortega in the +115 range.Â
| Fighter | Odds | Total Rounds |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Ortega | +114 | O2.5 (+110) |
| Diego Lopes | -135 | U2.5 (-140) |
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes UFC 303 Prediction
Brian Ortega
Having fought twice for the featherweight belt since December 2018, Ortega came seconds away from getting it the first time against Alex Volkanovski, as Volk did the impossible by getting out of a deafening neck grip. The following year, it was a shoulder injury that derailed Ortega’s chances, losing a TKO to Yair Rodriguez in the first round in July 2022. His return nearly 17 months later though was one that caught my attention, taking out Rodriguez in the third round of a February fight that many had counted him out of.Â
Diego Lopes
Casual fight fans might not yet be familiar with Lopes, but that could change Saturday night with a statement performance that many who follow the sport closely are calling for. Joining the UFC in May 2023 with a loss to Movsar Evloev, Lopes has gone on a three-fight winning streak in the time since, with all three wins coming in the very first round.Â
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes Pick
With a Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night bonus secured in three of his first four fights with the UFC, Lopes has the making of a star in waiting. I think he runs into a different kind of beast in this one, however, as Ortega has stood and competed with the best the featherweight division has to offer. In what I expect to be a back-and-forth affair, I like for Ortega to edge this one out.Â
Pick: Brian Ortega (+114) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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UFC ODDS
Johnny has been covering the sports betting markets and handicapping games for the better part of the past decade. Along the way, he has written for publications such as All-In Magazine, Blitz Predict, FantasyPros, Betting Pros, Sportsbook Review, and most recently, OddsChecker. In addition to giving out picks on Twitter, Johnny is the host of the podcast The Daily Sports Bet -- a 10 minute or less listen with actionable insights and no fluff or BS. Starting the podcast in June, he closed out 2021 up 26 units with a winning percentage of 55%.