Lopes came out fast and aggressive as always, taking the fight to Ige, who agreed to step in for Brian Ortega on Saturday afternoon. The two traded throughout the opening two rounds, with Lopes getting the better of things, before Ige had his best moments in the third as the Brazilian rising star began to slow.
All three judges scored it the same way, awarding Lopes a unanimous decision win with 29-28 scores across the board, moving his record to 4-1 inside the Octagon.
This was a gutsy effort by both men, who deserve the utmost respect. Despite myriad issues, Lopes keeps rolling, and should merit another marquee assignment next time out after everything he’s dealt with here. | Official Scorecards
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