Diego Lopes delivered a statement win on Saturday night, halting Jean Silva’s remarkable streak with a highlight-reel finish in the main event of Noche UFC in San Antonio. The Brazilian featherweight scored a second-round TKO, reestablishing himself as a contender after a tough setback earlier in the year.
The bout began with Lopes imposing his grappling advantage. He quickly took Silva to the mat in the opening round, transitioned to full mount, and punished his opponent with elbows and heavy strikes. Though Silva managed to survive the early barrage, he was left bloodied and visibly shaken heading into the second frame.
Silva attempted to swing the momentum in Round 2, pressing forward with combinations and landing sharp punches that had Lopes briefly on the defensive. Just as it appeared Silva might be turning the tide, Lopes unleashed a spinning back elbow that caught him flush. The strike sent Silva staggering, and Lopes capitalized with a furious ground-and-pound assault that forced referee Mike Beltran to wave off the contest at 4:48 of the round.
The defeat ends Silva’s 13-fight winning streak, a run that had made him one of the hottest names in the featherweight division. For Lopes, the victory is a major rebound following his unsuccessful title challenge earlier this year, reminding fans of his dangerous finishing ability.
In his post-fight comments, Silva admitted he had strayed from his strategy in the heat of the moment, vowing to come back stronger. Meanwhile, Lopes’ emphatic finish has reignited speculation about his place among the division’s top contenders and set the stage for another high-stakes matchup later this year.
