In one of the most anticipated featherweight main events of the year, one-time title challenger Diego Lopes returns to the Octagon for a high-stakes showdown with fast-rising knockout artist Jean Silva in the Noche UFC headliner.
Coming off a decisive decision loss against reigning 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski, Lopes is determined to climb his way back to the top of the contender’s circle. To do so, he’ll have to go through one of the division’s most destructive up-and-comers in Silva.
Round 1
Lopes opens with a calf kick, and Silva comes back with a teep to the body of Lopes. Both fighters keep attacking with the kids early on. Silva goes for a spinning heel kick to the body, but that allows Lopes to shoot in for a takedown and get Silva to the mat almost immediately. Lopes quickly moves into full mount. Silva tries to buck Lopes off him, but it doesn’t work. Lopes goes to work, dropping elbows and busting Silva open. Lopes switches to punches as Silva desperately tries to scramble.
With 90 seconds to go, Silva reverses position and climbs back to his feet. Lopes goes back to the calf kick as Silva rips to the body. Silva lands a nice right hand, and Lopes acknowledges it. The round ends with Silva smiling at Lopes and wiping the blood from his head.
Round 2
Lopes and Silva trade calf kicks to start the second round. Silva throws a right, but narrowly misses. Lopes returns fire with a right hand of his own. Silva connects with a left and then immediately starts talking to Lopes. Silva lands a jab, followed by another. Silva throws a chopping inside elbow before landing a right hand. Silva tags Lopes with a right hand, but Lopes eats it. Silva scores with a three-piece combination. Lopes comes back with a pair of jabs and scores an easy takedown with just over a minute to go. Silva pops back up before getting returned to the mat and pinned down near the fence.
Silva scrambles again, getting to his feet and swinging away with a big one-two. Silva is going off, walking down Lopes, but Lopes lands a perfectly timed spinning back elbow that bloodies Silva and sends him crashing to the canvas. Lopes unleashes a flurry of ground strikes, and the referee steps in, forcing the stoppage.
After the fight, Lopes had words with Silva’s corner. Silva appears to shove Lopes as he starts to walk away.
Official Result: Diego Lopes def. Jean Silva via TKO (spinning back elbow to ground and pound) at 4:48 of Round 2.
Check Out Highlights From Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva at Noche UFC:
Jean Silva Walkout #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/dJUuRzW1xY
— Helms (@HelmsMMA) September 14, 2025
OMFG!!! Diego Lopes lands 5 DEADLY ELBOWS Directly on top of Jean Silva head in FULL MOUNT 👀😬🚨 #ufcnoche pic.twitter.com/eTDuh4NuS0
— MMA Homie Podcast (@theMMAhomies) September 14, 2025
DIEGO LOPES IS BEATING THE HELL OUT OF JEAN SILVA RIGHT NOW #UFCNoche
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) September 14, 2025
HAHAHAHA I TOLD YALL, IT’S LEVELS DIEGO LOPES KOS JEAN SILVA IN THE FINAL SECONDS OF RD2!😂😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Td4HHe8Ryv
— The MMA Archives (@Themmaarchives) September 14, 2025
Fight of the year so far?!
Diego Lopes stops Jean Silva in an INCREDIBLE #NocheUFC main event 🔥 pic.twitter.com/535TbW7jvK
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 14, 2025
