A significant five-round featherweight clash has been booked to headline the upcoming Noche UFC event in San Antonio on September 13th. Former title challenger Diego Lopes is set to face off against the undefeated rising prospect Jean Silva.
UFC CEO Dana White officially announced this main event pairing on Tuesday evening, confirming a highly anticipated matchup between two exciting fighters in the 145-pound division.
The bout features Lopes, who recently challenged for the featherweight title and is looking to rebound from a loss to champion Alexander Volkanovski, against Silva, who has quickly established himself as a force with a perfect 5-0 record since joining the UFC roster.
Before his championship setback, Lopes had built an impressive five-fight winning streak, including notable victories over top contenders like Brian Ortega, Dan Ige, and Sodiq Yusuff. Despite the title fight loss, Lopes remains a highly-ranked and dangerous fighter in the division.
On the other side, the 28-year-old Jean Silva, representing the Fighting Nerds team, has taken the division by storm with a series of explosive performances. His most recent victory came via a dominant ninja choke submission over Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314 in April, showcasing his finishing ability.
All five of Silva`s victories inside the Octagon have come by way of either knockout or submission, highlighting his aggressive and effective style.
Silva will aim to maintain his undefeated record and his finishing streak against Lopes in September. A win over a former title challenger like Lopes could significantly elevate Silva`s standing and potentially move him closer to a title shot opportunity.
The Noche UFC card is scheduled to take place in San Antonio, and fans can expect more exciting fights to be added to the event lineup in the coming weeks.
Wesley Dunham