Main Event Recap: Lopes vs. Silva
The underdog didn’t just win—he detonated the main event. At Noche UFC 3 inside San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center on September 13, 2025, Diego Lopes halted Jean Silva with a brutal spinning back elbow at 4:48 of round two, then sealed it with rapid-fire ground strikes. Coming in at +210 against Silva’s -260, Lopes turned a fight many expected him to lose into a statement finish.
The night carried the high-energy feel the Noche UFC brand has built around September fight cards, and the crowd got a wild centerpiece. Lopes, 27-7 entering the bout, needed a rebound against Silva, who rode a 16-3 record and strong momentum. Instead of starting slow, Lopes showed poise from the first exchange and kept building pressure until Silva finally cracked.
From the opening bell, Lopes mixed clean striking with well-timed level changes. He secured 3 of 4 takedown attempts and controlled the cage for 2:40, forcing Silva to fight off the back foot more than he wanted. On the feet, Lopes was the sharper read. He outlanded Silva 86–43 in total strikes and 74–43 in significant strikes, numbers that tracked with what you could see in real time—Silva just couldn’t get the same returns when he threw in combination.
The finishing sequence was the kind that lives on highlight reels. Silva stepped in, Lopes rotated, and the elbow landed flush. Silva folded, and Lopes pounced with follow-ups until the referee stepped in with 12 seconds left in the frame. It was sudden, violent, and decisive—the kind of stoppage that moves a contender forward in a crowded featherweight field.
Beyond the shock factor, this was smart work by Lopes. He blended range shots with wrestling threats and kept Silva guessing. Even before the elbow, the strike totals hinted the fight was turning. For a betting underdog with a 32% implied win probability (+210), flipping the script like that against a -260 favorite (about 72% implied) is the exact kind of result that reorders matchmaker boards.
What does it mean for the division? Lopes adds a signature finish to an already dangerous profile and positions himself for a bigger-name opponent next. Silva, who entered looking like a rising force, will need a reset—but his willingness to trade will keep him relevant. This fight didn’t ding his toughness; it exposed how small defensive gaps can be fatal against a sharp counter game.
Full Card Results and Takeaways
Before the main event chaos, the card was already delivering. The pace never really dipped, and the matchups balanced proven names with climbers hungry for a breakout. Here’s how the key fights shook out—and what they told us.
- Featherweight main event: Diego Lopes def. Jean Silva by TKO (spinning back elbow and ground strikes) at 4:48 of round 2.
- Bantamweight: Rob Font def. David Martinez by unanimous decision after three rounds.
- Lightweight: Rafa Garcia def. Jared Gordon by KO at 2:27 of round 3.
- Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum def. Dustin Stoltzfus by unanimous decision after three rounds.
Rob Font’s win over David Martinez was a lesson in veteran composure. Font’s jab and footwork have carried him for years, and they did again here. When Martinez tried to extend exchanges, Font managed distance and picked safer shots, taking fewer risks while banking minutes on the cards. It wasn’t flashy; it was controlled and effective, which is why judges tend to reward Font in three-rounders like this.
In the lightweight bout, Rafa Garcia broke through Jared Gordon with sustained pressure and a late surge. The finish at 2:27 of round three came after Garcia kept walking Gordon down, taxing his defense and timing his entries better as the fight wore on. When Garcia found the window, he didn’t hesitate. For a fighter who often wins on grit and pace, turning that into a clean stoppage is a meaningful step up.
Kelvin Gastelum versus Dustin Stoltzfus at middleweight leaned on experience. Gastelum kept things tidy—tight boxing combinations, solid defensive reactions, and just enough wrestling looks to make Stoltzfus think twice about overcommitting. Stoltzfus had moments when he pressed forward behind kicks and straight shots, but Gastelum did more with his minutes. Over three rounds, that’s what counts.
Big picture, the matchmaking hit a sweet spot. You had a headline-grabbing finish from Lopes, a measured veteran win from Font, a late knockout surge from Garcia, and a composed effort from Gastelum back up at 185. Different styles, different stakes, but a clear throughline: if you managed risk while staying active, you got rewarded.
As for where it all goes next, the main event changed the most. Lopes just added a high-visibility stoppage to a night built for eyeballs, and those are the results that tend to turn into co-main and main event bookings against ranked opposition. Silva will have options, too—the way he fights will always make him TV-friendly—but he’ll need to tighten the defense that Lopes exploited.
For Font, the decision win keeps him on steady ground in a division that moves fast. Garcia will likely get a higher-ranked lightweight after a third-round finish that shows he can close. Gastelum’s decision at middleweight stabilizes him and sets up a solid next step against another durable opponent. No official attendance or broadcast metrics were released during the event window, but the energy in the building and the main-event exclamation point suggested the promotion got what it wanted out of San Antonio.
In a sport where one strike flips a script, Lopes authored the moment of the night and maybe the month. Odds, momentum, expectations—they all vanished when the elbow landed. The rest of the card did its job. The main event made the night impossible to forget.
