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Diego Lopes broke presidential hearts with a violent finish in front of a Trump family perhaps hoping for U.S. success on Sunday at The White House in Washington.
UFC boss Dana White could not have hoped for a more spectacular start to his one-of-a-kind UFC Freedom 250 event, despite a temporary delay due to the threat of a nearby storm. Ultimately, the most thunderous thing that went down inside the Octagon was Lopes' left hook that dropped American Steve Garcia for a second-round TKO in the opening fight.
"It just happened," Lopes said after Bruce Buffer, in a customized star-spangled suit, confirmed the result. "Great knockout with ground-and-pound."
He can say that again.
But from the opening round, it looked like it might not even happen for Lopes, as Garcia had the far crisper shots early, landing with aplomb and a more mature shot selection.
Garcia attacked the lead leg early, and though Lopes wobbled him in the opening minute, Garcia asserted himself through the rest of the opener by touching Lopes with his southpaw jab, before presenting other questions through a variety of strikes from his long frame. Garcia landed a solid straight left, an oblique kick, and even a question mark kick to the head.
The 34-year-old took a seven-fight winning run into the event but had never fought on a stage such as this, with a 92-foot tall "Claw" structure, the outdoor venue, and the attention of the mainstream media because of the distinct venue and military members in attendance.
U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds even joined forces moments before the show started to screech overhead with an 11-jet display. There were chants everywhere of "USA! USA! USA!" But the magnitude of the occasion did not seem to faze Garcia, who buckled Lopes' legs with a straight left early in the second.
It was not long before everything unraveled for him, though.
Diego Lopes of Brazil reacts to his win during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026, in Washington. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Jeff Bottari via Getty Images
Lopes, of course, is a 35-fight veteran, and outside of two losses to Alexander Volkanovski, has beaten a wide array of fighters from Dan Ige to Brian Ortega.
No matter whom he's fought, one thing has always been clear — the man has extraordinary punch resistance. And so it was midway through the second round when Garcia made his one and only mistake — one that cost him the fight, when he went toe-to-toe with Lopes.
As the two men went flurry for flurry, Lopes showed his killer instinct by landing a left hook after taking a right hand to the face. Finally, he dropped Garcia. And, like lightning, he pounced on him and hit him with the nastiest of ground-and-pound.
Referee Mike Beltran could have pulled Lopes off Garcia sooner, considering the American was unconscious and the Brazilian was battering his head, hammer shot after hammer shot.
"This is unbelievable," Lopes said. "The whole week I don't believe this happened. But this happened, guys. It's great to be here."
On the turnaround in fortunes between rounds, he said: "I know Steve is dangerous in the first round and I took it easy.
"Nobody can beat me," he finished. "If you come to the middle of the cage, try it. Sorry guys, I'm knocking everybody out."
For more on UFC Freedom 250, check out Uncrowned's fight-night hub here.
Continue reading...
UFC boss Dana White could not have hoped for a more spectacular start to his one-of-a-kind UFC Freedom 250 event, despite a temporary delay due to the threat of a nearby storm. Ultimately, the most thunderous thing that went down inside the Octagon was Lopes' left hook that dropped American Steve Garcia for a second-round TKO in the opening fight.
"It just happened," Lopes said after Bruce Buffer, in a customized star-spangled suit, confirmed the result. "Great knockout with ground-and-pound."
He can say that again.
But from the opening round, it looked like it might not even happen for Lopes, as Garcia had the far crisper shots early, landing with aplomb and a more mature shot selection.
Garcia attacked the lead leg early, and though Lopes wobbled him in the opening minute, Garcia asserted himself through the rest of the opener by touching Lopes with his southpaw jab, before presenting other questions through a variety of strikes from his long frame. Garcia landed a solid straight left, an oblique kick, and even a question mark kick to the head.
The 34-year-old took a seven-fight winning run into the event but had never fought on a stage such as this, with a 92-foot tall "Claw" structure, the outdoor venue, and the attention of the mainstream media because of the distinct venue and military members in attendance.
U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds even joined forces moments before the show started to screech overhead with an 11-jet display. There were chants everywhere of "USA! USA! USA!" But the magnitude of the occasion did not seem to faze Garcia, who buckled Lopes' legs with a straight left early in the second.
It was not long before everything unraveled for him, though.
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Diego Lopes of Brazil reacts to his win during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026, in Washington. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Jeff Bottari via Getty Images
Lopes, of course, is a 35-fight veteran, and outside of two losses to Alexander Volkanovski, has beaten a wide array of fighters from Dan Ige to Brian Ortega.
No matter whom he's fought, one thing has always been clear — the man has extraordinary punch resistance. And so it was midway through the second round when Garcia made his one and only mistake — one that cost him the fight, when he went toe-to-toe with Lopes.
As the two men went flurry for flurry, Lopes showed his killer instinct by landing a left hook after taking a right hand to the face. Finally, he dropped Garcia. And, like lightning, he pounced on him and hit him with the nastiest of ground-and-pound.
Referee Mike Beltran could have pulled Lopes off Garcia sooner, considering the American was unconscious and the Brazilian was battering his head, hammer shot after hammer shot.
"This is unbelievable," Lopes said. "The whole week I don't believe this happened. But this happened, guys. It's great to be here."
On the turnaround in fortunes between rounds, he said: "I know Steve is dangerous in the first round and I took it easy.
"Nobody can beat me," he finished. "If you come to the middle of the cage, try it. Sorry guys, I'm knocking everybody out."
For more on UFC Freedom 250, check out Uncrowned's fight-night hub here.
Continue reading...
