Steve Garcia knows his UFC White House opener against Diego Lopes has all the makings to be an all-time classic.
After Garcia’s last win over David Onama, he called for a top-ranked guy, but admitted he wasn’t sure if he was going to get it. The American knows he’s overlooked and will have to claw his way to the top, so when he got the call to fight Lopes, he admits he was a bit surprised.
“A little bit,” Garcia said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com, if he was surprised to get a top-ranked guy like Garcia. “I had been clawing my way up the division, and I’ve had to be undeniable to get recognition. I still feel like I have a lot to prove. UFC wants to see if I’m up to the standards, so here we go. We got Diego Lopes. I’m truly grateful. He’s a great competitor, loved by the fans, and I’m excited to fight him.”
Not only did he get the call to fight a top-ranked guy, but he was also asked to compete at the White House. Although Garcia isn’t a household name, he and Lopes are two of the most exciting fighters at featherweight, so he does understand why the UFC put this fight on the card.
“Who else is American other than Aljo, and Aljo was already matched up,” Garcia said. “Ultimately, you want a banger, right, not trying to shit on Aljo’s style, but do we wanna watch that at the White House? Probably not. You want to see a scrap, see two guys putting their lives on the line to put on a show. This is the perfect matchup to put on the White House. I’m excited to open it up; we get to set the tone for the rest of the night.”
Steve Garcia eyes stoppage win over Diego Lopes
Heading into UFC White House, Steve Garcia knows Diego Lopes will be a tough out.
However, Garcia has confidence in his striking ability and power that he will make a statement and finish Lopes.
“I think he will mix it up against me, for sure. I would love for him to stand and bang with me, but Diego Lopes is not stupid,” Garcia said. “We are both finishers; anything can happen in this fight. Both of us have hearts, and both have been hurt. This is seeing if I have met his match and if he’s met his. We are going to go out there and do it right. It could be the craziest three-round fight, or it could be a finish, which I expect. It’s going to be something special, you will want to watch this.”
Should Garcia beat Lopes, he believes a title shot has to be next, and fans will be backing him to face Alexander Volkanovski instead of Movsar Evloev.
“If you beat No. 2, what’s next? Let’s be honest, you beat No. 2, you should probably be the next guy. But, if I have to go through Movsar, I will go through Movsar, but who wants to see that?,” Garcia concluded.
