Steve Garcia knocked out by Diego Lopes at UFC White House event

Featherweight contender Steve Garcia suffered a knockout loss to Diego Lopes in the opening bout of UFC Freedom 250, the first mixed‑martial‑arts fight ever staged on the White House lawn. Garcia started strong and won the first round on all judges' cards, but was stopped in the second round after a barrage of strikes from Lopes.

The defeat ended Garcia's seven‑fight win streak and dropped him from No. 9 to No. 10 in the UFC featherweight rankings. In an Instagram post, Garcia thanked fans and promised a return, saying he was "not far off." Lopes responded with a respectful comment, calling Garcia a "class act."