Lopes’s Elbow Ended Silva’s Unbeaten UFC Run in San Antonio
Diego Lopes stopped Jean Silva on September 13, 2025, in the Noche UFC main event at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The featherweight contest ended by technical knockout at 4:48 of the second round after a fierce series of striking and grappling exchanges.
Lopes’s top pressure created the first major danger
Silva began with front kicks while Lopes attacked the legs. A spinning-kick attempt gave Lopes an opening to take the fight down, reach the back and move into mount.
Lopes landed punches and elbows as Silva tried to escape. Silva eventually powered upright and resumed striking, surviving a difficult opening round without removing the threat posed by Lopes’s grappling.
The second round became a close-range battle
Both men landed heavy punches and body attacks as the pace remained intense. Lopes mixed his striking with another takedown sequence, repeatedly returning Silva to the canvas when he tried to stand.
Silva continued fighting back and regained his feet again. The exchanges then produced the decisive moment: an elbow dropped him, and Lopes followed with strikes until the referee stopped the fight.
The result supplied a rebound against a surging opponent
Lopes entered after an unsuccessful featherweight title challenge. Silva arrived with five UFC victories from five appearances, all by finish, including a submission of Bryce Mitchell.
The San Antonio result ended that promotional winning run and returned Lopes to the win column. His ability to threaten in several phases proved crucial, as repeated takedowns and damaging ground attacks supported the standing elbow that finally created the finish.
Sources
- Cageside Press: first-round mount, exchanges and finishing elbow
- UFC: date, venue and official stoppage
