Noche UFC is always one of the standout events of the MMA calendar. A unique event that celebrates the fighting heritage of Mexico and features the best Spanish fighters in the world.
This year’s Noche card lands in Glendale, Arizona. The fight card has an early start time of 1:00 PM EST for prelims, and 5:00 PM EST for the main card.
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Usually, for a marquee fight night card, the UFC wouldn’t start early. This case is different, though, because Zuffa Boxing has a massive event that night as well, headlined by Ryan Garcia and Connor Benn.
MMA: UFC Fight Night-Mexico City Weigh Ins
Sep 20, 2019; Mexico City, MEX; Yair Rodriguez reacts after weigh ins for UFC Fight Night at JW Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Credit: USA TODAY Sports (Reuters)
Unfortunately, this year’s version of the card has already taken a huge hit. Announced just weeks ago, featherweight contenders Jean Silva and Yair Rodriguez were set to headline this year’s Noche UFC.
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That fight is off; Silva and Rodriguez won’t square off in Glendale as Rodriguez announced that he’s injured and unable to compete. Rodriguez is now extending his layoff even further, as he hasn’t stepped into the octagon since April of 2025.
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“I got injured,” Rodriguez wrote on social media. “I tried to continue my training, but ultimately it wasn’t responsible to compete in this condition. I wanted this fight, and I know many of you did too. Now, my job is to fully recover and come back ready to compete at the level you expect of me, and that I expect of myself.”
Since 2020, Rodriguez has been severely inactive. In five of the last six years, Rodriguez has fought once or not at all, with only 2023 being an exception when he fought twice.
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Now, with another fight falling out, theres no more talking about Rodriguez as an actual contender at featherweight. The best ability is availability, and Rodriguez doesn’t even have that.
The UFC always has solutions, though, and found one to keep Jean Silva on the card.
New Noche UFC main event: Jean Silva vs Jose Miguel Delgado
MMA: UFC Fight Night – Oklahoma City: Bashi vs Delgado
Jul 18, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Jose Miguel Delgado (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Austin Bashi. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The one silver lining to Rodriguez pulling out is that there’s still over three weeks till Noche UFC. Delgado wasn’t booked for Noche UFC before Rodriguez pulled out. Now he can pull off the biggest win of his career and a huge upset over a certified top contender.
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Still working his way up the UFC ladder, Delgado is 4-1 in the UFC and 12-2 overall. Delgado not only takes this huge opportunity on short notice, but also turns around quickly.
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The last time we saw Delgado in the Octagon was just over 4 weeks ago. Now he enters a three-week mini-camp against by far the best opponent he’s ever faced.
A win over a popular and highly skilled Jean Silva sets the MMA world upside down and fast-tracks Delgado to the top of 145.
Implications for Jean Silva don’t change
MMA: UFC 303 – Jourdain vs Silva
Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Jean Silva during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
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For Silva, this really doesn’t change much; a win over Rodriguez wouldn’t have warranted a title shot, and this win won’t either. What a win here will do is set Silva up for a No. 1 contender bout.
Lerone Murphy is rumored to fight on UFC 332, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Even if he does, a win for him doesn’t warrant a title shot either, so Silva vs Murphy would be the perfect fight at the top of the division.
The winner can earn their first title shot against either Movsar Evloev, or current champion Alexander Volkanovski.
