{"id":147236,"date":"2026-06-14T21:38:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T00:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/how-diego-lopes-landed-the-ufc-white-house-backup-role-arman-tsarukyan-was-supposed-to-fill\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T21:38:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T00:38:29","slug":"how-diego-lopes-landed-the-ufc-white-house-backup-role-arman-tsarukyan-was-supposed-to-fill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/how-diego-lopes-landed-the-ufc-white-house-backup-role-arman-tsarukyan-was-supposed-to-fill\/","title":{"rendered":"How Diego Lopes landed the UFC White House backup role Arman Tsarukyan was supposed to fill"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Diego Lopes has explained how he came to be the UFC Freedom 250 main event backup fighter.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arman Tsarukyan<\/a> was supposed to step in if Ilia Topuria<\/a> or Justin Gaethje<\/a> fell out of their lightweight unification clash.<\/p>\n

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The top 155lb contender recently made it clear that he didn\u2019t plan to weigh in ahead of the UFC White House card, so MMA\u2019s premier promotion was left scrambling for a replacement. <\/p>\n

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Choose which man will leave the White House as the undisputed UFC lightweight champion on June 14!<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Diego Lopes details his chat with Hunter Campbell <\/h2>\n

Earlier this week, Arman Tsarukyan\u2019s backup replacement<\/a> was rumored to be Mauricio Ruffy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian knockout artist is set to face Michael Chandler<\/a> in a lightweight bout at the White House. <\/p>\n

However, Tsarukyan\u2019s true replacement was revealed when Diego Lopes made weight twice on Saturday. <\/p>\n

The two-time featherweight title challenger hit 146lbs to make his fight with Steve Garcia official.<\/p>\n

After rehydrating, Lopes tipped the scale at 154lbs to become the Topuria vs. Gaethje backup.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople already know how I am,\u201d the Mexican fan favorite said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI like a challenge, and when we found out Arman Tsarukyan wasn\u2019t coming anymore, we asked Hunter [Campbell], \u2018What can we do? We can offer to be the backup. If you like, we are here.\u2019 Then he said, \u2018Alright, if you want to weigh in twice, no problem.\u2019 I said, \u2018Yeah, I can do that.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo we ended up weighing in twice. Hydrated back up, and we made the weight. 146lbs, let\u2019s fight. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now we are also going to make the 154lb weight. We\u2019re ready. Whatever happens, we\u2019ll be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Diego Lopes weighs in as the backup for the UFC Freedom 250 lightweight title fight after just making featherweight <\/p>\n

Lopes weighed in at 146 and then came back and weighed in at 154 lbs, 8 lbs heavier ⚖️ pic.twitter.com\/GihaM8XczH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) June 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

UFC Freedom 250 weigh-in results<\/h2>\n

All 14 fighters hit their marks ahead of the historic UFC event at the White House on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Ilia Topuria (155) vs. Justin Gaethje (155)<\/p>\n

Alex Pereira (251) vs. Ciryl Gane (248)<\/p>\n

Sean O\u2019Malley (135.5) vs. Aiemann Zahabi (135)<\/p>\n

Josh Hokit (231) vs. Derrick Lewis (265)<\/p>\n

Mauricio Ruffy (155) vs. Michael Chandler (156)<\/p>\n

Bo Nickal (186) vs. Kyle Daukaus (186)<\/p>\n

Diego Lopes (146 & 154) vs. Steve Garcia (146)<\/p>\n

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