The UFC heads back to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV from a jam-packed UFC 303 PPV event.

Headlining this fight card is none other than the undisputed light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira who's looking to defend his title for a second time when he takes on former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka in a much-anticipated rematch.

In the co-main event, we have a lightweight matchup between two of the top featherweights in the UFC Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes.

• This fight was originally scheduled for 145 lbs but due to the super short notice stature of this fight, Brian Ortega was unable to cut down to the featherweight limit so now the fight will be contested at 155 lbs.

With that said, we take a look at this co-main event fight and give out our prediction and pick for this Ortega-Lopes matchup.

(Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC 303: Brian Ortega Predictions

Brian Ortega (16-3)?stepped up when the UFC needed him the most to make the most of a bad situation as he helped save UFC 303 when he takes on the surging Diego Lopes. Ortega is coming off one of the best performances of his UFC career when he submitted Yair Rodriguez in round three via an arm triangle choke.

Ortega will look to do one better by haunting the hype train of Diego Lopes who the UFC is trying to push and who the fans adore. The submission specialist will have his work cut out for him going against a younger version of himself.

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• Lopes is a submission specialist like Ortega with 12 of his 24 wins coming by submission but he is equally as dangerous on the feet with 10 of those wins coming by knockout.

While this is certainly a dangerous fight for Ortega to take on such short notice it's not one that isn't winnable for him.

Ortega has only faced the best of the best in the featherweight division and while Lopes is as dangerous as they come he has yet to prove anything during his four fights inside the Octagon. With Ortega's experience against the highest level of competitors, he's going to need to utilize that in this matchup by dragging this fight into deep waters.

Lopes has seen the second round just once in his short-notice UFC debut and he had a tough time when the fight left round one as he is super explosive in the opening five minutes. It's up to Ortega to weather that early storm much like he's done on numerous occasions and that's when he can start to take over in the later rounds.

Lopes has the power advantage on the feet but his recklessness leaves openings that someone who's as skilled as Ortega can take full advantage of in this fight. As long as Ortega doesn't get steamrolled in the opening minutes he has the chance to take this fight longer it goes to extend his winning streak to two in a row on Saturday night.

UFC 303: Diego Lopes Predictions

Diego Lopes (24-6) has been?everyone's new favorite fighter ever since he stepped up on short notice to take on Movsar Evloev who he almost tapped out in the first round. Even taking that first initial loss his stock only rose from there.

Since his debut loss, he's rattled off three straight first-round finishes with back-t0-back first-round knockouts.

The way that he's been performing he now gets to take on two-time featherweight title challenger and the No. 3 ranked Brian Ortega as the UFC pushes him up the featherweight rankings.

• The UFC has seen so much potential for Lopes that they are giving him a chance to crack the top 5 in the rankings with just four fights with the promotion and only being ranked 14th in the division.

That is a testament to his game as when he is in the Octagon he's one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. He can defeat his opponents anywhere they want to take the fight.

• Lopes has the power to knock out anyone in the division and he has some of the best submission skills as well which is up there with the best like his opposition this weekend Brian Ortega.

In this matchup against Ortega, Lopes will be the faster, younger, and more powerful fighter when he steps into the Octagon. Lopes will do what he does best and that is to bring the fight to Ortega the moment it starts. Seeing as how Ortega is notoriously a slow starter this is going to be key for Lopes to get the win on Saturday night.

As long as Lopes doesn't wait and gets after Ortega from the get-go he can land something flush that puts him away early extending his winning streak to four in a row and a spot inside the top 5 in the featherweight rankings.

UFC 303: BRIAN ORTEGA VS. DIEGO LOPES FANDUEL ODDS FOR JUNE 29

MONEY LINE

• BRIAN ORTEGA: +118
• DIEGO LOPES: -144

PROPS

• BRIAN ORTEGA BY POINTS: +340
• BRIAN ORTEGA BY SUBMISSION: +600
• BRIAN ORTEGA BY KNOCKOUT/TKO: +600
• DIEGO LOPES BY POINTS: +400
• DIEGO LOPES BY KNOCKOUT/TKO: +240
• DIEGO LOPES BY SUBMISSION: +550

OVER/UNDER (ROUNDS TOTAL)

• OVER 2.5 ROUNDS (+110)
• UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (-140)

BEST 303 ODDS FOR BRIAN ORTEGA VS. DIEGO LOPES

• Brian Ortega is the underdog. DraftKings Sportsbook currently has the best odds at (+120)

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• Diego Lopes is the favorite against Brian Ortega. Bet365 Sportsbook currently has the best odds at (-138)
• Bet365 currently has the best odds for the total, which is set at 2.5 Rounds (-110) for the over, and (-130) for the under

Check our FanDuel sportsbook review to find out more about FanDuel's rating, bonuses, betting margins, and other helpful details.

FINAL ORTEGA-LOPES PICK & PREDICTION

This is a fantastic matchup that the UFC was able to put together on such short notice as the two best featherweights in the UFC battle it out in the co-main event on International Fight Week.

Ultimately, we can expect this fight to be an absolute barnburner as Diego Lopes is known to come out guns blazing and it will be up to Brian Ortega to weather the early storm as he normally does and then take it to the Brazilian and drown him down the stretch to get the late finish or get the nod on the judge's scorecards and extend his winning streak to two in a row.

FINAL ORTEGA-LOPES PICK & PREDICTION: BRIAN ORTEGA (+118)

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