Steve Garcia had no idea if he was actually going to fight at the UFC White House card until the entire lineup was announced during UFC 326.
The veteran featherweight, who is currently riding a seven-fight win streak with six knockouts along the way, got a call from his manager and then the UFC just days before the announcement was made asking about his availability. It was during that conversation where UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell quizzed Garcia about potentially putting him on the White House card, which included questions about whether or not he had any kind of criminal record.
“The ‘maybe’ part was maybe on Monday,” Garcia told MMA Fighting. “But I didn’t find out until Saturday really. In a way Monday I guess was kind of an interview. I talked to Hunter [Campbell], I talked to my manager. I guess they were feeling me out and wanted to know exactly what I’m about. They see what about but they wanted to know my history, make sure I had a clean record. There’s a lot of things that go into fighting at the White House. I think I met all the criteria.
“But it was crickets after that. So I was like they probably won’t give it to me. There’s 700 fighters on this roster. Lo and behold, they picked me.”
With plans to host between 4,000 to 5,000 invited guests to sit on the south lawn of the White House for the event, the UFC isn’t selling tickets, but part of building the event was concerns over security considering the high-profile nature of this show.
Garcia wasn’t concerned about anything popping up on a background check, although the fact that the UFC asked means it was something the promotion was vetting before booking the card.
“All the clearances, all that stuff, I’m good with that,” Garcia said. “I told them I was like all I do is train all day, I’ve done that my whole entire life. I think you’re good. I stayed out of trouble so we don’t have an issue there.
“Maybe that’s why they had to pass on a few different guys. I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
After his talk with the UFC on Monday, Garcia didn’t hear anything else until Saturday when he saw his name appear next to two-time title challenger Diego Lopes as the opening fight on the card.
That’s the first time Garcia was told he was definitely competing at the White House.
“Saturday, I was just chilling there in my chair, wondering [if I got the fight] and they said during the Drew Dober [fight], we’re going to announce the White House [card],” Garcia said. “I guess we’re going to find out.
“It pops up on the screen and sure enough my name was at the bottom. I was hyped. Good time, good exciting day. I normally don’t get excited when I hear matchups but I was excited to see that one.”
The UFC was keeping the entire card under wraps until the announcement was made and Garcia was warned not to tell anybody he was even potentially going to take one of the coveted spots.
“They told me not to tell anybody like at all. Even my coaches,” Garcia said. “I was like OK, all right. Everybody was like [asking me] and I literally get asked that question everyday. I was like no, nothing. Then that happened, I was like they’re working up something. [People asked me] ‘you got a timeframe?’ I was like I had a conversation with them so I think we’re looking at something, we’ll see.
“I kept it at that level. Because I didn’t really know. It wasn’t a for sure thing. No contract signed. Nothing. I was like if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be and Saturday, we’ll find out. Sure enough, we found out and here we are. June 14.”
Garcia wasn’t overly confident he would get booked on the UFC White House card but he understands the logic putting him on there against somebody like Lopes because the promotion wants fights to really deliver that night.
With 15 finishes among 19 career wins, Garcia always strives to put on exciting fights and he expects nothing different facing off against Lopes in June.
“I think it was smart,” Garcia said. “I think it was smart on their end. Because they told me or at least what they told my manager — ‘we need somebody and he’s going to come out with a bang.’ He’s like I’ve got a guy: Steve Garcia. All right get him on the fight and that’s when I had my conversation with Hunter. My first one, hopefully first of many and we’re just going to continue to grow this thing.
“I think Diego Lopes is a fun opponent to have. This dude literally just fought [Alexander Volkanovski] twice, he’s ranked No. 2. I think it will look good if I can capitalize and get a win over this guy. All good things.”
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