UFC Freedom 250 Results: Diego Lopes stops Steve Garcia in second-round finish at the White House
(Courtesy : UFC)
Diego Lopes kicks off the show in destructive fashion.
Diego Lopes has kicked off UFC Freedom 250 in emphatic fashion, stopping Steve Garcia via KO in the second round on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Lopes, ranked No. 2 in the featherweight division, entered the bout looking to regain momentum after recent title fight losses, while Garcia arrived on an impressive seven-fight winning streak with six finishes in that span.
Round 1: Garcia in control
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Garcia dictates the distance with crisp, rangy straight lefts and stinging low kicks that force a seemingly hesitant Lopes onto his back foot. The American looks sharp and composed. Round 1 goes clearly to Garcia.
Round 2: Lopes turns it around
Garcia gets the better of the exchanges early and sits Lopes down with a clean left hand. But Lopes bites down and fires back.
The Brazilian catches Garcia with a massive left hook that sends the American crashing to the canvas, then immediately swarms with clinical ground-and-pound. Garcia tries to fire back, but it is to no avail; Lopes keeps finding the mark and pounds out the finish.
It is a massive win for Lopes, who can now pick the direction he wants to go in the back half of the year. Having already challenged for the featherweight title twice, a statement performance on the sport’s most historic stage puts him firmly back in title contention at 145 pounds.
Results: Diego Lopes def. Steve Garcia via KO (strikes) — Round 2, 2:42
Who won the Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia fight at UFC Freedom 250?
Diego Lopes defeated Steve Garcia via Knockout (punches) at 2:42 of Round 2 to kick off the historic card.
What was Garcia’s record coming into this fight?
Garcia had won seven fights in a row, with six of those coming by finish.
What is Diego Lopes’ UFC ranking?
Lopes is ranked No. 2 in the UFC featherweight division.
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