Dan Ige fought Diego Lopes on four hours' notice at UFC 303 at 165 lbs after Brian Ortega withdrew from the fight due to a fever. Despite the loss, Ige performed well, earning respect for his resilience and skill. Dana White has promised to honor Ige’s request to fight at the Las Vegas Sphere. Here are three potential opponents for Ige:

Winner of Giga Chikadze vs. Arnold Allen

Reasoning: Giga Chikadze and Arnold Allen are set to fight on the main card of UFC 304 in London. Allen is coming off a close decision loss to Movsar Evloev at UFC 297, while Chikadze’s last fight was a decision victory over Alex Caceres at UFC Singapore in 2023. Allen is ranked 6th, and Chikadze 7th in the featherweight division. Ige, currently ranked 13th, would benefit greatly from a fight against the winner, providing a chance to break into the top 10.

Ryan Garcia

Reasoning: Although it might seem far-fetched, the ongoing Twitter exchanges between Ige and Ryan Garcia have garnered attention, even drawing Dana White into the conversation. White recently defended Garcia following a doping violation. If Garcia makes his UFC debut, Ige would be an ideal opponent, especially since Ige has promised not to shoot for takedowns, which could make for an intriguing stand-up battle.

Lerone Murphy

Reasoning: Lerone Murphy, ranked 11th in the division, recently defeated Edson Barboza via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Vegas 92. A matchup with Murphy makes sense due to their proximity in the rankings and both fighters’ striking capabilities. This fight would allow Ige to advance the rankings and prove his standing against a strong opponent.