Diego Lopes meets Steve Garcia at Freedom 250

According to reports that have not yet been officially confirmed, seventh-ranked featherweight Diego Lopes is set to face Steve "Mean Machine" Garcia at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, 2026. The bout was reportedly announced at UFC 326 and would feature on a card tied to the anniversary event held at the White House.

Lopes, 31, carries a 28-8 record into the matchup and represents Brazil's Lobo Gym MMA. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox featherweight holds the number-seven ranking in the division and is looking to bounce back after a setback derailed what had been a run toward title contention. He averages 3.83 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, and his submission threat is real, with 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes underlining his well-rounded danger.

Garcia, 34, comes in with a 19-6 record and the backing of Jackson-Wink MMA. The American southpaw stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and has secured seven wins inside the UFC. His striking output is notably high at 5.39 significant strikes landed per minute on 49 percent accuracy, making him one of the more relentless pressure fighters in the division. A takedown threat also sits in his arsenal at 0.86 per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Lopes enters ranked seventh, meaning a win for either fighter could have immediate top-ten implications in a competitive featherweight division
• Garcia's output-heavy southpaw style collides with Lopes's submission-oriented, well-rounded game, setting up a genuine stylistic contrast
• A strong performance on a high-profile anniversary card could vault the winner into title-contention conversations