Diego Lopes Opens UFC White House Card Against Steve Garcia
diego lopes opens the UFC White House card on Sunday against Steve Garcia, his first bout since dropping a decision to Alexander Volkanovski earlier in the year. The matchup gives Lopes a fast return to a high-profile slot after a title run that ended at UFC 325.
Lopes said the fight gives him a chance to remind the MMA community what he can do, and he framed Garcia as another contender with momentum. Garcia brings a seven-fight win streak into the bout, but Lopes is betting on experience built through title fights and pressure moments.
Lopes Returns After UFC 325
The opening fight on the historic UFC White House card comes after Lopes dropped a decision in a rematch with Volkanovski at UFC 325 at the beginning of the year. He entered that stretch as a recent two-time featherweight title challenger, and the White House booking puts him back in one of the card’s most visible positions.
“Steve Garcia, now he’s in a great position too.” Lopes said. “But I’m still here, bro. I’m still here. I proved this one time. I can’t wait to prove it again.”
Garcia’s Seven-Fight Run
Garcia’s side of the matchup is built on volume and stoppages. He has won seven straight, including a first-round knockout of David Onama in the main event of UFC Vegas 110 last November, and he also owns a lopsided decision win over Calvin Kattar during the run.
That form is why the bout is being discussed as a frontrunner for Fight of the Night on the South Lawn. Lopes sees the meeting as a chance to answer a simple division question with a result rather than a speech.
Experience Against Garcia
Lopes pointed to the scar tissue of high-level fights as the edge he trusts most. “Yeah, I think [experience], it’s a big deal for me,” he said. He has already fought for the belt and defended his position, and he said he previously faced Brian Ortega for the No. 3 spot.
He also expects Sunday to end early. “the fans can expect like the best fight they’ve ever seen,” Lopes said. “I think, 100 percent, this fight is not going to go for the distance.”
