Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva—Noche UFC 3 Main Event Preview, Predictions Kicking off September 13th, 2025, the UFC Featherweight division will be filled with fireworks when Diego Lopes squares off against Jean Silva in the main event of Noche UFC 3, held at the Frost Bank Centre, San Antonio, Texas. Scheduled for 10:00 PM (UTC), Lopes and Silva will battle it out in an interesting five-round featherweight competition that should be a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, with both men trying to take a massive step towards title contention in the future.
Introduction—Why Noche UFC 3 Matters
The Noche UFC series has become a staple yearly celebration of combat sports that aligns perfectly with Mexican Independence Day weekend and highlights a cultural significance behind each of their fights.
This year in the main event we have Diego Lopes (26-7) vs. Jean Silva (16-2), which is a potential title eliminator. For Lopes, this fight is a chance for redemption after a valiant effort in a decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title. Attaining a 13-win streak, Silva will try to deepen his claim to a much-deserved top rank. to extend Silva’s take should prove pivotal in setting the stage for a seamless takeoff: ‘Intensifying’ inflating national pride coupled with a boisterous crowd in San Antonio will provide the ultimate toppings to the Fight of the Year cake.’
Fighter Profiles
Diego Lopes
Record: 26-7 (10 KOs, 12 Subs)
UFC Record: 5-2
Gym: Lobo Gym
Style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Pressure Striking
Strengths: Elite grappling, creative submission attacks, toughness, five-round cardio
Weakness: Can take too much damage on feet
Career Highlights
Almost submitted Movsar Evloev in UFC debut
Submitted Gavin Tucker in 98 seconds
Knocked out Pat Sabatini and Sodiq Yusuff back-to-back
Decision wins against Dan Ige and Brian Ortega
Went five rounds with Alexander Volkanovski in a title fight and made it competitive.
Jean Silva
16-2 (twelve knockouts, three submissions)
Fighting Nerds is in the gym. The UFC record is 5-0.
Style: Kickboxing & Muay Thai
Strengths: powerful clinch game, aggressive starts, explosive striking, and knockout power.
Weaknesses: Cardio is not assessed; the five-round experience is limited.
Career Highlights
Won a UFC contract from Dana White's Contender Series in 2023.
Knocked out Westin Wilson and Charles Jourdain in explosive fashion.
Stopped Drew Dober and Melsik Baghdasaryan.
Submitted Bryce Mitchell with a slick ninja choke at UFC 314.
Fighting styles: Grappler vs. Striker
This is the Iconic Grappler vs. Striker Match
Diego Lopes has success when he is able to drag in his opponents into deep waters with unrelenting pressure and the threat of submissions. Lopes's best chance to win is to control Silva on the mat.
Jean Silva implements his ultimate game plan, where he is able to keep the fight standing, where he can end it early with a finish. Silva fights with speed, chaos, and aggression while trying to knock his opponents out.
If participants want to win, they will prefer to stay within their expertise. When standing, Silva has a good chance at winning. If they go to the ground, Lopes is the favourite.
Important Factors That Will Determine the Outcome of the Fight
Takedown Defence—Is Silva capable of preventing Lopes from landing his takedown?
Striking Power—At what point in time is Silva's power enough to break Lopes' chin in a 25-minute fight?
Conditioning—Lopes has proven he can have the durability to go five rounds, and Silva has not been tested beyond three rounds yet.
Fight IQ—Lopes must "not find himself in firefights", while Silva must not be recklessly overcommitting.
Recent Performances & Form Guide
Diego Lopes
Literally went "blow for blow" with Volkanovski for 25 minutes.
He put together a string of stoppage victories before that (Tucker, Sabatini, Yusuff).
Lopes arrived in the UFC with much hype and has continuously delivered.
Jean Silva
Currently riding a 13-fight winning streak.
Currently, he has finished 5 straight fighters in the UFC.
Still relatively untested in late-fight, championship rounds, giving conditioning some question marks.
Betting Insights
How to bet on Jean Silva
Best Value: Silva
There is a valid argument that since Silva is dangerous early in the fight, it would make sense to bet on a finish in Round 1 or Round 2.
How to bet on Diego Lopes
Best Value: submission prop.
Lopes has the experience and timeline in a five-round championship fight win, either late or by decision.
Expert Fight Picks
This fight is impossibly close. Silva has the edge early based on the knockout submission prop on Lopes, but Lopes has the edge late based on cardio, grappling, and experience.
Prediction: Diego Lopes wins by submission in Round 2 or 3.
Best Bet: Diego Lopes
Current Betting Odds from Stake.com
Analysis Paragraph – Breaking Down the Matchup
From an analytical perspective, this matchup is a classic style matchup. Jean Silva is an offensive force and he's got knockout power and aggressive offensive pressure that's been too much for inopportune opponents. His limited five-round experience, and 'fading' if finishes don't come within the first three rounds, offers Lopes some vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Diego Lopes is already seasoned from competing at the championship level and has gone 25 minutes against Volkanovski, so he knows how to pace himself throughout the fight. Lopes excels in chaos, is comfortable while exchanging strikes, and can rely on dragging Silva into the grappling, where he should threaten Silva with submissions. This presents a high-risk, high-reward bet, as, sure, Silva probably wins early but however, Lopes is a sound investment in the long run, given his durability and grappling.
Conclusion
The Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva main event at Noche UFC 3 (September 13th, 2025) is going to be one of the most enjoyable featherweight battles of the year! Lopes' grappling and durability vs. Silva's knockout ability is going to make for one potential war!
- Prediction: Diego Lopes wins by submission.
- Best Bet: Lopes ML.
- Smart Play: Fight does not go the distance.
