UPDATE: In a stunning comeback, Diego Lopes scored a TKO victory over Jean Silva in the featherweight main event at Noche UFC in San Antonio on September 16, 2023. Lopes (27-7), fresh off a championship defeat in April, showcased his skills by dominating Silva, who was riding a 13-fight win streak.
The fight began explosively, with Lopes quickly gaining the upper hand. Midway through Round 1, he seized full mount and unleashed a barrage of elbow strikes, leaving Silva bloodied and on the defensive. Silva, however, fought through the adversity and turned the tide in Round 2, landing impressive strikes before Lopes delivered a devastating spinning elbow that floored him.
As the clock hit 4:48 of Round 2, Lopes pounced with nearly two dozen unanswered punches, prompting referee Mike Beltran to step in and stop the fight. The victory not only marked Lopes’ return to form but also interrupted Silva’s impressive streak, which dated back to 2018.
Lopes expressed his dominance with confidence, stating,
“This game has levels: his level and high level. I’m standing at high level. I proved it tonight.”
For Silva (16-3), the loss is significant, ending a remarkable run and highlighting challenges faced by his team, the Fighting Nerds, known for their quirky post-fight interviews. This defeat follows a series of setbacks for the team, including losses in previous UFC events.
Earlier in the night, Tatiana Suarez also made headlines by defeating Amanda Lemos in a highly anticipated strawweight bout. Suarez (11-1) controlled the fight with takedowns and a total of 9 minutes, 34 seconds of control time, ultimately winning by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). This victory positions Suarez for a potential title shot in the near future.
The Noche UFC event has become a celebrated tradition in September, commemorating Mexican Independence Day. Originally planned for a venue in Mexico, the event was relocated to San Antonio due to construction delays.
Fans and fighters alike are left buzzing from the night’s action. As Lopes revels in his victory, the MMA community will be watching closely to see what’s next for him and the Fighting Nerds.
