Diego Lopes discusses weighing in for two fights at UFC White House

Diego Lopes (27-8) pulled double duty at the UFC White House weigh-ins on Sunday, officially registering at 145 pounds for his featherweight bout against Steve Garcia and again at 155 pounds as an alternate fighter for the card's main event. The opportunistic move showcased Lopes' willingness to step up for the promotion on short notice.

Lopes explained the circumstances to UFC on TNT Sports: "When I saw Arman pull out as the backup for the fight, I texted Hunter and said, 'If you need me, I can serve as the backup.' I got one hour to increase my weight." This is not new territory for the featherweight. Lopes made his UFC debut in 2023 on short notice against Movsar Evloev, falling in a hard-fought decision, and completed a two-month turnaround on just two weeks' notice at UFC 303, where he accepted a late opponent change.

In contrast, lightweight Arman Tsarukyan—widely viewed as the top contender at 155 pounds—declined the alternate spot. Tsarukyan instead opted to compete in a wrestling match against Tony Ferguson at RAF 10, removing himself from title picture contention at UFC Freedom 250. Lopes' readiness to answer the call once again underscores his reputation as a reliable fill-in when the promotion needs help.