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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 08: UFC president Dana White is seen during the UFC 289 press conference at Rogers Arena on June 08, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1497051987.jpg?width=600)
via Getty
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 08: UFC president Dana White is seen during the UFC 289 press conference at Rogers Arena on June 08, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The UFC Supremo Dana White took to his social media to finally announce what would occur at the UFC Noche event. The hyped-up UFC Sphere has been on the news recently after White proclaimed that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime event and that the promotion would never return to the Sphere arena again. White and the promotion have already smoked a massive $17 million to make that event perfect but what about the fights? Let’s find out.
The promotion has been secretive about the events surrounding the featherweight title fight. Several rumors were suggesting that the featherweight title would be at stake, but Ariel Helwani later quashed them, “The plan was always the [Alexa] Grasso title defense as she told us a couple of weeks ago.” Helwani’s assessment was indeed the truth as the Noche event misses the Topuria vs. Holloway card but it has another interesting featherweight clash that was supposed to happen at UFC 303.
Dana White finally keeps his promise to Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes
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Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega were supposed to lock horns at the UFC 303 event. Both the fighters filled in at the very last moment to save the card as Conor McGregor stabbed the event. Their clash was one of the highlights of the event, however, Ortega suddenly fell ill and Dan Ige had to step in on a 2-hour notice. Lopes on the match against Ige and called out ‘T-City’ for a clash at the UFC Sphere and it appears that the UFC supremo has finally agreed to their terms.
Polls of the day
Poll 1 of 5
Who do you think will come out on top in the Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega fight?
Diego Lopes
Brian Ortega
Too close to call
Don't care, just want a good fight
Do you believe Dana White's assurance about the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight?
Absolutely
Not at all
Maybe, but I have doubts
I don't care
Whats your Perspective on:
Dana White finally delivers! Can Diego Lopes live up to the hype against Brian Ortega?
Have an interesting take?
Do you think Paddy Pimblett will make a successful comeback at UFC 304?
Absolutely
No way
It's a toss-up
Only if he's fully fit
Do you think Islam Makhachev deserves a shot at being a double champ?
Absolutely
No way
Only if he wins his next fight
Depends on his opponent
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Diego Lopes called for a clash at the UFc Sphere and Dana White agreed to it with his eyes closed, “The most hyped prospect in the featherweight division, Diego Lopez, is taking a massive step up and facing the number three ranked Brian Ortega. These two were supposed to fight in the co-main event at UFC 303, but the bout was moved to this card after Ortega became ill.
He further added, “Lopez stayed on that card, where he beat Dan Ean on three hours’ notice and immediately asked to fight Ortega at the Sphere. These guys love to stand and trade, even though they both have unbelievable Jiu-Jitsu. Both will fight anybody, anywhere, anytime.” Now that we know about Ortega and Lopes’s return, let’s have a look at the other fights that are going to happen in September.
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What’s your perspective on:
Dana White finally delivers! Can Diego Lopes live up to the hype against Brian Ortega?
Have an interesting take?
Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili to headline the UFC Sphere
The UFC Supremo finally announced the timeline for the UFC Sphere, and it is exactly what everyone expected. There were rumors that Sean O’Malley would be defending his title against Merab Dvalishvili at the Sphere and it’s the truth now. The first fight that Dana White announced was the bantamweight title defense. “What’s up guys, you’ve probably heard the news by now, I talked to the UFC, we’re 9 weeks out from this fight. It’s happening, the Suga Show is main event in The Sphere against Merab,” said White.
Well, ͏that’s not the only title defense͏ taking ͏place at the UFC SSphere. The UF͏C Supremo has announc͏ed that the w͏omen’s fl͏yweigh͏t title will also be on ͏the line, ͏with Valen͏tina Shev͏chenko and͏ champion Al͏exa͏ Grasso set͏ to fight for the thir͏d time to en͏d their prolonge͏d rival͏r͏y. Here’s a complete look at the entire card:-
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- Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aori Qileng
- Yazmin Jáuregui vs. Kelten Souza
- Kevin Borjas vs. Edgar Chairez
- Irene Aldana vs. Norma Dumont
- Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Manuel Torres
- Ode Osbourne vs. Ronaldo Rodríguez
- Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zelluber
- Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopez
- Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko
- Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili
UFC Sphere would set the stage for the bantamweight as well as the women’s flyweight division. Regardless, what’s your take on the entire card? State your thoughts in the comments below.
Debate
Dana White finally delivers! Can Diego Lopes live up to the hype against Brian Ortega?