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Diego Lopes believes fans are in for fireworks when he faces Steve Garcia at UFC Freedom 250 and sees their featherweight clash as the ideal way to kick off the event.
The Brazilian contender is set to square off against the surging Garcia on June 14 in Washington, D.C., with both fighters carrying reputations for delivering action-packed performances inside the Octagon.
Garcia enters the matchup on a remarkable run, having stopped six of his last seven opponents. Despite that success, Lopes is confident his opponent's aggressive approach could ultimately play into his hands.
According to Lopes, Garcia's willingness to engage and trade strikes makes for an exciting stylistic matchup. While he expects Garcia to make tactical adjustments, he warned that charging forward recklessly could prove costly against a fighter of his caliber.
Lopes described the bout as a win-win scenario for everyone involved, predicting an entertaining contest that should set the tone for the rest of the card.
The fight marks Lopes' first appearance since falling short in his second attempt to capture UFC gold against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Rather than dwelling on the setback, however, the 31-year-old is eager to get back into competition as quickly as possible.
Known for his active schedule, Lopes emphasized that fighting frequently has always been part of his mentality. He expressed little concern about title implications or rankings, insisting that his primary focus remains competing against the best opponents available.
While acknowledging Garcia's knockout power and current position among the division's top contenders, Lopes made it clear that he welcomes the challenge. With his career moving quickly since joining the UFC three years ago, he is determined to stay active and continue building momentum in one of the promotion's most competitive weight classes.
