Diego Lopes heads into Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 opener at the White House against Steve Garcia, knowing a win may complicate his plans after two failed tries against Alexander Volkanovski. The 27-year-old says he wants to move up in weight, but success Sunday
WASHINGTON — Diego Lopes walked into media day with a win in mind and uncertainty right behind it.
On Sunday. the UFC Freedom 250 opener at the White House will pair Lopes against streaking featherweight Steve Garcia (19-5 MMA. 8-2 UFC). For Lopes. the numbers tell part of the story: a 27-8 MMA record and a 6-3 UFC record. and a recent stretch that includes two losses to UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in his past three fights. He knows how quickly a title path can tighten — and how complicated a “yes” can become.
“I’ve said this before. that there will be an intention to actually move up a weight division. but a win on Sunday puts me in a little complicated position. ” Lopes said during Wednesday’s UFC Freedom 250 media day. “So. I’ve come off of two unsuccessful tries at a title. and then you win and you’re up on top. so you need to face people who are up-and-coming. that are always going to be below you. And I have no problem fighting those people. but at one point you run out of people. and they’re going to have to find just prospects to fight me. So, let’s see what happens on Sunday, and we’ll go from there.”.
Garcia arrives with momentum of his own. He is on a seven-fight winning streak, and Lopes is sizing up what that run suggests: a fighter who can finish.
The style clash is why Garcia’s streak matters, not just the streak itself. Lopes called Garcia a “knockout artist,” and described what draws him to the matchup — chaos, pressure, and the kind of chaos he believes he can turn into an opening.
“I think he has a perfect style for me,” Lopes said. “I like this. I like the car crash, you know? In the chaos is where I’m the best guy.”
The setup is clear: Sunday’s fight is positioned as a springboard in the featherweight division — but Lopes is already thinking beyond the result, weighing how a victory could reshape who he faces next, even if it doesn’t immediately bring the next title chance he once chased.
Diego Lopes Steve Garcia UFC Freedom 250 White House Alexander Volkanovski featherweight UFC media day