Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is just one day away from the upcoming Noche UFC 3 mixed martial arts (MMA) event , which is set to go down tomorrow night (Sat., Sept. 13, 2025) on ESPN+ from inside Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, featuring a featherweight main event between Top 10 division rivals Diego Lopes and Jean Silva. The co-main event will see bantamweight veteran Rob Font return to action against late replacement David Martinez, who filled in for the injured Raul Rosas Jr.
just a few days back.
Let’s take a closer look at both featured contests.
145 lbs.: Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva
Diego Lopes
Record: 26-7 | Age: 30 | Betting line: +195
Wins: 10 KO/TKO, 12 SUB, 4 DEC | Losses: 2 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 5 DEC
Height: 5’11” | Reach: 72” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 3.70 | Striking accuracy: 47%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.76 | Striking Defense: 46%
Takedown Average: 0.35 (40% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 67%
Current Ranking: No. 2 | Last fight: Unanimous decision defeat to Alexander Volkanovski
“Lord” Jean Silva
Record: 16-2 | Age: 28 | Betting line: -240
Wins: 12 KO/TKO, 3 SUB, 1 DEC | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 2 DEC
Height: 5’7” | Reach: 69” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 4.87 | Striking accuracy: 52%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.13 | Striking Defense: 56%
Takedown Average: 0.60 (50% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 86%
Current Ranking: No. 10 | Last fight: Submission victory over Bryce Mitchell
Diego Lopes is keeping the gate ahead of Noche UFC 3. The Brazilian was able to parlay a five-fight win streak into a UFC 314 title shot against Alexander Volkanovski but ultimately came up short after five rounds of action. While the bout was competitive, it wasn’t anywhere near close enough to warrant an immediate rematch, particularly if the only argument is Lopes beating an up-and-comer ranked No. 10 at 145 pounds. Conversely, having Jean Silva knock off the No. 2 contender would probably be enough to secure “Lord” the next “Great” title fight. And let’s face it, matchmakers would love to find yet another excuse to keep undefeated No. 1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev — who defeated Lopes at UFC 288 — from getting his long overdue title shot.
We also have to factor in Lerone Murphy, who continues to rack up wins and now finds himself ranked in the Top 5. That’s probably why Volkanovski has yet to be booked, meaning Lopes is fighting for no other reason than to play spoiler and keep himself in the title hunt. Outside of No. 7-ranked Brian Ortega, who somehow continues to look worse in every fight, Lopes doesn’t hold a victory over anyone currently ranked in the division Top 10. That doesn’t hurt his stock, at least among the decision makers, because he also boasts four post-fight performance bonuses in just seven UFC fights — and the promotion loves fighters who go for broke at the expense of a few brain cells. Carnage sells tickets and Lopes is one of the division’s most exciting combatants.
“I learned so much from this [Volkanovski] fight,” Lopes told UFC.com. “I proved myself against the best guy in the world. Sharing the Octagon for five rounds, this is a great experience for me. Now, I have even more confidence in myself. I have more experience, too. It’s like nothing happening Saturday night is new for me. I think, now, I’m the best guy. I’ve proved myself with the best guys in the world. My first fight in the UFC, I proved I was ready for the top. Now, I’ve gone through the rankings and I defend my position now. In this game, it’s levels and high levels. I think I proved I am high-level.”
Speaking of exciting, “Lord” has also bagged a bunch of post-fight performance bonuses and has five straight finishes since graduating Dana White’s “Contender Series” back in late 2023. Like Lopes, there’s not a lot to celebrate when you factor in the quality of his opponents, none of whom are currently ranked in the featherweight division. The biggest win of his career has come over Bryce Mitchell, who has since moved to bantamweight. I’m not sure that’s anything to brag about anyway, as Mitchell is a certified nutcase with a history of getting smoked by elite competition. Silva’s biggest asset coming into this weekend’s headliner is his aggression, coupled with his power, which has the potential to send Lopes to la-la land in the opening frame.
That’s assuming Silva doesn’t succumb to the pressure of saving the “Fighting Nerds” reputation, which took a big hit at UFC Paris last weekend following high-profile losses from Caio Borralho and Mauricio Ruffy. Video surfaced after the event showing Silva having an emotional reaction to Ruffy’s defeat.
“I think when you’re a family, and to see your family members go through what Caio and Mauricio went through, if you don’t have a reaction like mine, then you’re not a family,” Silva told MMA Junkie. “My reaction was totally normal for someone who’s so close, and what can I say? Of course there’s an impact on me. But it does not change the fact that I’m going to knock Diego out. The sorrow for seeing what my brothers went through and all of that, it doesn’t change anything for me. I’m still doing what I’m doing, but obviously I didn’t want to see them go through that, but it doesn’t change anything of what I’m doing. All I know is that I’m going to be the next champion. Be it fighting Volkanovski, Lerone Murphy, whoever it may be, I know that my next win after Diego Lopes is going to be for the belt.”
Fair-weather fight fans have jumped off the “Fighting Frauds” bandwagon following its collapse at UFC Paris but we shouldn’t let that sway our opinion of Silva, who I believe will be too much for Lopes to handle. The former featherweight title challenger can certainly match “Lord” when it comes to offense; however, Lopes will struggle with the aggression of his fight night foe and spend the majority of their contest on his back foot. I’m sure takedown attempts will come when the incoming fire becomes intolerable, I just don’t see how Lopes will be able to break through Silva’s iron takedown defense. Assuming Silva’s gas tank holds up, and there’s no reason to think it won’t, this is likely to be an action-packed (but very one-sided) fight.
Prediction: Silva def. Lopes by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Rob Font vs. David Martinez
Rob Font
Record: 22-8 | Age: 38 | Betting line: -130
Wins: 9 KO/TKO, 4 SUB, 9 DEC | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 1 SUB, 7 DEC
Height: 5’8” | Reach: 71” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.49 | Striking accuracy: 46%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 3.67 | Striking Defense: 57%
Takedown Average: 0.79 (34% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 42%
Current Ranking: No. 9 | Last fight: Split decision victory over Jean Matsumoto
David “Black Spartan” Martinez
Record: 12-1 | Age: 27 | Betting line: +110
Wins: 10 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 2 DEC | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 0 SUB, 1 DEC
Height: 5’5” | Reach: 67” | Stance: Orthodox
Significant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.40 | Striking accuracy: 52%
Strikes Absorbed Per Minute: 2.70 | Striking Defense: 67%
Takedown Average: 0.00 (0% accuracy) | Takedown Defense: 100%
Current Ranking: Unranked | Last fight: Knockout victory over Saimon Oliveira
Longtime bantamweight veteran Rob Font was finally able to break out of his dreadful slump, where he lost four of five against some of the top names in the division. His only saving grace during that span was the fact that all of his losses came by way of decision against superior strikers who were unable to find the finish. Font has an iron jaw and has never been knocked out in 30 professional fights, but is just one finish away from having double-digit knockouts himself. I’m not sure Font would have claimed the co-main event slot were it not for his former opponent, Raul Rosas Jr., who pulled out at the last minute. The promotion has been trying to push Rosas Jr. and Noche UFC — the celebration of Mexican Independence Day — was the perfect stage for the 20 year-old phenom. Instead, Font will get another up-and-coming Mexican star in the form of David Martinez, brother of former UFC strawweight striker Melissa Martinez.
“I think altogether this is like my 12th opponent switch, nine in the UFC, I think three or four in the local scene, so it is something that I’m used to,” Font told UFC.com. “It’s something that I mentally prepare for. I know that anything can happen, even on fight week, so hopefully everything goes smooth, and we get to the cage, and the fight continues with my opponent right now. It’s just part of the game, it sucks, things happen, but I’m used to it. I do think the experience is going to play a factor, specifically in the second or third round. Ideally, he is going to come out fast, he is going to come out guns blazing in the first round. I think that’s going to be his age, his youth, his willingness to want to get into a fight and prove himself, take my ranking and make a name for himself. My job is to go out there, capitalize on his mistakes and make him feel like the younger fighter.”
Martinez outclassed Xavier Franklin on Dana White’s “Contender Series” roughly one year back and made a successful Octagon debut by annihilating Saimon Oliveira at UFC Mexico City back in March. The bulk of his career came under the Combate Global banner, beating up local bums like the 0-1 William Sanchez and the 10-9 Alan Cantu. Not unlike his sister “Super Mely,” Martinez is a striker by trade, with fast leg kicks and knockout power from the right side. I would also argue that most professional athletes look great at 27 years old when they haven’t been tested, so I’m not ready to type a eulogy for Font just yet. It’s worth noting that Martinez also went through a round-robin of opponents before settling on Font for this weekend’s Noche card.
“I had several changes,” Martinez said during the Noche UFC 3 media day. “I was preparing for the Ecuadorian, Carlos Vera. Then Quang Le, but just a couple of weeks ago I got a call from my manager to offer me this fight, a ranked fighter. I discussed it with my family and my coaches, and I felt ready to go. My coaches felt the same so that’s how the fight came to be. He’s a high-level striker. He’s kept his spot at the top for a long time, but I’ve fought great fighters, as well. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, and I’m ready for this fight. I wanted to fight in my home country [Mexico], representing for my people, but I have the people in my heart. I’m fighting with the Mexican people in my heart and that’s where they’ll be.”
Font may be getting up there in age but you can’t discount his experience in the division, which includes battles against four former UFC champions (beating two of them). I do think the speed and the leg attack of Martinez will present problems in the opening frame, but the granite-chinned Font will make the necessary adjustments and rebound in the second and third rounds, taking over when Martinez begins to tire.
Prediction: Font def. Martinez by unanimous decision
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