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Who will replace Yair Rodriguez vs. Jean Silva at Noche UFC main event?

Yair Rodriguez has not competed since April 2025. His most recent appearance came at UFC 314, where he earned a decision victory over Patricio Pitbull.

Published on: Aug 20, 2026, 05:29:04 IST
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Former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez has pulled out of the Noche UFC main event against Jean Silva for undisclosed reasons.

Yair Rodriguez has pulled out of the Noche UFC main event against Jean Silva for undisclosed reasons. (Instagram @panteraufc)
Yair Rodriguez has pulled out of the Noche UFC main event against Jean Silva for undisclosed reasons. (Instagram @panteraufc)

Yair Rodriguez’s recent fight history

The 33-year-old fighter, who holds a 20-5 record with one no contest, has not competed since April 2025. His most recent appearance came at UFC 314, where he earned a decision victory over Patricio Pitbull.

That fight marked the Mexican fighter's return after more than a year away from competition and snapped a two-fight losing streak that included defeats to Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega.

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Who replaces Yair Rodriguez against Silva at UFC Noche?

With Rodriguez now out of the headline bout, Jean Silva will face Jose Delgado in the Noche UFC main event, as per MMA Fighting report.

The matchup gives Delgado the biggest opportunity of his UFC career, as he is set to make his first appearance in a UFC main event.

Jose Delgado breaks into top 15

Delgado enters the contest following three consecutive victories over Austin Bashi, Andre Fili and Hyder Amil. He has bounced back with consecutive wins since suffering a unanimous decision defeat to Nathaniel Wood in October.

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His recent run of success at featherweight has helped Delgado break into the division’s Top 15 rankings, where he currently sits at No. 14.

Jean Silva eyes another featherweight win

Silva, meanwhile, will return to action after defeating Arnold Allen at UFC 324 earlier this year. The victory helped him regain momentum following a closely contested title-eliminator loss to Diego Lopes.

The Brazilian fighter owns a 17-3 professional record and will look to build on his January decision victory over Allen.

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The 29-year-old Silva has gone 6-1 inside the UFC and has collected four performance bonuses during his promotional run. He is currently ranked No. 6 in the UFC featherweight division, while Delgado sits at No. 14.

Noche UFC features more fights

The Noche UFC card will also feature several other notable matchups. Former women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso is scheduled to face Manon Fiorot, while former men’s flyweight champion Brandon Moreno will take on Joseph Morales.

  • Ojas Jaiswal
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Ojas Jaiswal

    Ojas Jaiswal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, currently working with the US Desk, where he covers a wide spectrum of American sports and global news developments. From high-intensity NFL moments on the field to the latest off-court NBA storylines, he specializes in delivering engaging, audience-driven stories that blend factual accuracy with compelling narratives. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Bennett University, Ojas brings over two years of experience in digital journalism. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with EssentiallySports, a leading digital sports media platform catering to American sports audiences, where he contributed across multiple editorial and engagement-focused roles. He also interned with Times Network at the Sports Desk, producing articles and video content across diverse sports, ranging from Formula 1 to football. Known for his commitment to factual and accurate reporting, Ojas was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Editing during his college years. Beyond sports journalism, he closely follows international affairs and global developments, while also exploring documentaries from different cultures and regions around the world. A lifelong football enthusiast, Ojas has admired Lionel Messi since childhood and continues to draw inspiration from the football icon’s journey and legacy.Read More

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