No. 2-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Diego Lopes will headline his second straight event when he collides with Brazilian knockout artist Jean Silva in the Noche UFC 3 main event this weekend (Sat., Sept. 13, 2025) inside Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
While the pair hasn’t shared much personal animosity, Silva recently jabbed at Lopes for representing Mexico despite
being Brazilian. That subtle dig seems to have sparked something, and now the tension is starting to build.
“This guy is a little bit strange, you know?” Lopes told reporters during UFC media day. “At the same time he talks shit on the internet, but also tries to be nice. I don’t understand this.”
The two Featherweights crossed paths at the fighter hotel earlier this week, with UFC security ensuring things didn’t escalate. Still, Lopes claimed he saw all he needed in that brief encounter.
“I looked this guy in the eyes yesterday when we crossed paths in the hotel,” Lopes said. “This guy is a little bit scared. Yeah, he is.”
Mind games? Maybe. After all, fear isn’t a word typically associated with Silva, who has bulldozed his way into the spotlight with violent finishes and highlight-reel knockouts. But Lopes insists the fight won’t last 25 minutes either way.
“I’m going to pressure him until he’s broken and then will finish him — knockout or submission,” Lopes predicted. “Maybe I knock him down and then finish him. This is my prediction … I’m different from his other opponents. I’m not scared. I think the difference is this: People are so scared to face Jean because of the power in his hands but I’m not scared. I’ve proved myself against the best guys in the world.”
LIVE! Stream Noche UFC 3 On ESPN+
Don’t miss a single second of face-punching action!
Where to Buy:
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire Noche UFC fight card, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 6 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To checkout the latest and greatest Noche UFC: “Lopes vs. Silva” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
