This is the UFC White House live blog for Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia, the main card featherweight bout Sunday at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The all-action fighters are expected to kick off the historic event with a bang, and there’s plenty on the line with Diego Lopes, currently No. 3 at 145 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, defending his spot against the streaking Steve Garcia (No. 11), who looks to establish himself as a dark horse title contender.

Lopes (27-8) has already had two cracks at the featherweight championship, having fallen short twice against all-time great Alexander Volkanovski. He burst onto the scene in 2023 with a strong short-notice performance in a losing effort against Movsar Evloev and then rattled off five consecutive victories to move to the front of the contender line. In between his two fights with Volkanovski, he also scored an impressive knockout over Jean Silva.

Just behind Evloev for the longest current featherweight win streak in the UFC is Garcia, who has had his hand raised in seven straight contests. In his first headlining opportunity this past November, Garcia scored a first-round knockout of David Onama to keep his hot hand.

Check out the UFC White House live blog for Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia below.

This is surreal to watch.

We’ve had some delay due to the weather conditions in Washington and I only wonder how that will affect fighters tonight — especially Lopes and Garcia, who basically had no exact idea when they would make the walk to the octagon. Minutes after the UFC announced a new start time at 9pm ET, the festivities began.

Garcia and Lopes make their way to the cage and we’re moments away from what should be the best fight of the night in terms of pure fist-fighting chaos.

Chants of “USA! USA” and we are underway! Lopes and Garcia touch gloves and study each other for a bit before Lopes throws the first head kick that is defended by Garcia, who fires back and actually lands two good punches on Lopes. The Brazilian responds aggressively, and threatens with a takedown that doesn’t go forward. Garcia with a calf kick followed by a left to the head, and Lopes fires another head kick. Lopes goes for the body. Brief stop for a low blow but they want to continue, and action resumes. They’re trading shots non-stop. Lopes tries a standing elbow and Garcia starts to work with the jab over and over and over. Garcia connecting with seconds left. Nothing heavy but scoring. Garcia misses a spinning back kick and the round ends. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Garcia.

Lopes with a right hand to open round two, and another one. Garcia keeping the center of the cage and Lopes circling around. Lopes with another head kick that doesn’t land, and Garcia counters to force him to walk backwards. Lopes with a solid jab now, and Garcia responds with a jab as well. Garcia now attacking the legs. Garcia’s straight left rocks Lopes for a brief moment. Lopes now rocks Garcia with an overhand right, and the American fires back. IT”S MADNESS NOW! They’re trading violently and LOPES KNOCKS GARCIA OUT WOW! Lopes’ left hook had Garcia in trouble immediately. Garcia wouldn’t take a step back and Lopes made him pay right there and then. What a win for the Brazilian to open the card.

Diego Lopes def. Steve Garcia by second-round knockout (2:42)

Lopes embraces Garcia in the cage and then tells Joe Rogan it feels unbelievable to fight on the White House lawn.

Lopes he has made adjustments after the first round and said no one can beat him in a fire fight in the middle of the cage.

“If the UFC needs me for the main event, I’ll come back,” he says with a smile on his face. In case you’ve missed it, he weighed in twice on Saturday. First. for this featherweight bout. And an hour late, he came in heavier to serve as a replacement for Topuria vs. Gaethje.