Leading up to this title eliminator bout, bad blood has only added to the excitement that already surrounded the UFC Noche main event in San Antonio, Texas. The event which celebrates Mexican Independence Day each year.

Diego Lopes came into this matchup off the back of his title fight loss against Alexander Volkanoski and was hoping to get back into the win column. The Brazilian is currently ranked number two in the Featherweight division.

 Jean Silva has climbed up the rankings quickly since earning his UFC contract on the Dana White Contender Series in 2023. Undefeated in the UFC (5-0) with 4 knockout’s and one submission which came in his last fight against Bryce Mitchel, this matchup was his biggest test yet.

Round 1

From the first bell, Lopes was effective with his low kicks, damaging Silva’s leg early on and worked his reach advantage well. Despite Silva showing good takedown defence against Mitchell in his last fight, it took Lopes just over a minute to get his first takedown, countering a spinning kick. From the takedown, Lopes gained control of the “Lords” back.

Lopes worked into full mount after he was unable to land the arm triangle choke. He began unleashing brutal ground and pound which included numerous sharp 12 to 6 elbows to the top of silva’s head. A big gash was created instantly, pouring blood all down his face. 

Pinned to the ground, Silva absorbed more punishment. Elbows and devastating fists continued, as Lopes hunted for the finish. Postured up and unleashing right and lefts hands repeatedly, Silva was doing anything he possibly could to stay in this bout. Heavy ground and pound continued as Silva had nowhere to go and there was two minutes still left in the round. Silva broke free and were back to the feet, after got his hand under Lopes’s leg.  The most damage we have seen silva take so far in his career. Silva responded with a lovely front kick to the throat of lopes at the end of the round which he found early success with before the takedown. 

In his corner between rounds, Silva’s team tried to settle him: “This is it, the worst case and it already happened, and you got through it.  Let’s go, we got five rounds and calm down”. 

Round 2

Silva started the second round positively, landing effective body shots. The fighting nerd began to settle in the octagon and started to use his creativity, landing spinning elbow. Lopes’s pressure was persistent, before a countered right hand on the chin of lopes left him wobbled. 

A flying knee and another right hand caught the chin of lopes as Silva found his distance and began to find the pocket. The fighting nerd continued to be on the front foot landing a right hand, left hook and another right hand simultaneously. In full flow, Silva tried landing another spinning elbow but just missed. Despite the damage took in this round, Lopes didn’t retreat.

Silva began to overthrow when trying to find that knockout moment and left his body vulnerable. Lopes found his moment and wrestled him down to the floor in similar fashion to the first round and gained control of Silva straight away. On his back, lopes wrapped his legs around Silva to keep control. He then throws him to the ground, manhandling his opponent, showing his strength advantage, and got ground control.

Both fighters were back on the feet in the centre of the octagon with less than two minutes left in the round. Silva began putting the pressure on again, but lopes responded with a clean right hand. “Lord” used his combinations well, integrating a left kick for the first time. However, he got carried away throwing too many big shots and as he charged in, Lopes caught him with a spinning elbow, dropping him to the canvas. 

On top of his back once again, Lopes threw devastating ground and pound, hunting for the finish and the referee finally decided to put a stop to the contest with just 13 seconds left of the second round.

Covered in blood, Silva was devastated and tried to punch Lopes as he was walking away after the fight. A disappointing end to a brilliant contest.

This marks another victory for exciting Brazilian. He now holds a record of 27 wins, 11 from TKO’S. Lopes now has the 2^nd most featherweight wins (5) since 2023, only behind Lerone Murphey and is definitely in contention for another title shot.

This loss for Silva continues an unfortunate run for the ‘Fighting Nerds’, after recent losses to Mauricio Ruffy and Caio Borralho in Paris.  

Post-Fight- Diego Lopes spoke to Daniel Cormier in the Octagon:

“I said Saturday night I will show you guys the level, this is high level and I proved it tonight. I prepared for that elbow and when he attacked, I knew the exact moment when I need to throw it.”

What is next for Diego Lopes:

“I don’t know, I need to talk to Hunter, my manager and Dana. I’m ready for the next opponent. If UFC think I need one more fight, I will take it. Send me the next guy”.