Diego Lopes Stops Jean Silva in Thrilling Main Event at Noche UFC

Lopes Shines in Main Event

Lopes (27-7) wasted no time establishing control, using his grappling to take Silva’s back early and punish him with relentless ground-and-pound. Silva weathered the storm and rallied in Round 2, finding success with heavy shots on the feet that appeared to rattle Lopes.

But just as momentum seemed to shift, Lopes uncorked a vicious spinning elbow that landed flush. A swarm of punches followed, forcing the referee to step in at 4:48 of Round 2. With the win, Lopes reminded fans why he remains a serious factor in the featherweight title picture.

It was his second consecutive Noche UFC triumph, following a dominant win over Brian Ortega at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2024. Lopes, who challenged Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight belt earlier this year, is quickly becoming one of the UFC’s most bankable Mexican stars.

Silva’s First Career Defeat

For Silva (13-1), the loss marked his first as a professional. A standout from Brazil’s Fighting Nerds team and a product of Dana White’s Contender Series, Silva entered undefeated and looked dangerous in Round 2 before running into Lopes’ highlight-reel finish. Despite the setback, his performance suggested he’ll remain a threat at 145 pounds.

Co-Main: Martínez Outclasses Font

In the bantamweight co-main event, rising Mexican prospect David Martínez earned a unanimous decision over veteran Rob Font (29-28 across the board). After a competitive opening frame, Martínez adjusted and took control with sharper combinations and relentless pace.

The win is likely to earn Martínez a spot in the official bantamweight rankings when they update next week.