A spinning back elbow that changed the fight
San Antonio got the kind of main event finish that sells highlight reels for months. Diego Lopes stopped Jean Silva at 4:48 of the second round at Noche UFC with a clean spinning back elbow followed by a rapid burst of punches that forced the referee to wave it off. The Frost Bank Center crowd felt the shift in an instant—one sharp move, and the fight was over.
This matchup had real momentum baked in. Lopes walked in with a 27-7 record and a chance to steady his surge after a bumpy stretch, while Silva arrived on a 13-fight winning streak and a 16-3 slate that made him one of the division’s most dangerous climbers. It wasn’t a soft booking. It was a stress test for both men—who could handle a step up in pace, power, and attention.
The pace was hot from the opening minute. Both featherweights kept their feet planted more than their coaches would’ve liked, and the exchanges had real snap. Lopes mixed measured pressure with sudden entries. Silva, as usual, trusted his aggression and willingness to trade. Neither looked overwhelmed by the moment, and that matters in a main event. You could feel the tactical tug-of-war: distance versus pocket, patience versus bite-down-and-throw.
Then came the turning point. Spinning attacks only work when your opponent leans in or loses track of your shoulders for a half-second. That’s all Lopes needed. He set the angle, turned on the hips, and the elbow landed clean enough to send Silva to the canvas. The follow-up was brutal but controlled—quick punches, no wasted motion, and a referee who stepped in at the right time. Officially a TKO, functionally a knockout born from timing and nerve.
The result gives Lopes his fifth win in six fights and, more important, a signature finish in a main event slot. In a crowded 145-pound field, moments like this move you faster than a split decision ever will. He showed composure against a pressure fighter and the kind of creative offense that separates contenders from the pack. Expect a leap up the ladder next—someone in or near the top 10. Names like Calvin Kattar, Giga Chikadze, Bryce Mitchell, or Arnold Allen make sense stylistically and for the calendar. A booking like that by year’s end wouldn’t be a surprise.
For Silva, this is the hard reset that comes with elite competition. The 13-fight streak is over, but the tools that built it haven’t vanished. He’s explosive, he’s fearless, and he doesn’t need long to do damage. The adjustment now is defensive discipline in close quarters—where spinning shots and elbows can sneak through. One loss doesn’t define a UFC run, especially when you’re this dangerous.
Results and what’s next from San Antonio
The main card had steady action before the headliner detonated. Rob Font outpointed David Martinez by unanimous decision in a measured bantamweight battle. Font leaned on his jab and veteran rhythm to keep rounds under control and avoid chaotic swings. For a fighter who’s lived near the top of 135, this kind of win keeps him relevant for ranked matchups without taking on too much damage.
At lightweight, Rafa Garcia scored a third-round knockout of Jared Gordon at 2:27. Garcia’s durability and work rate wore well over time, and when the opening came late, he stepped in with conviction. Gordon is notoriously tough to put away, so that finish lands as a real statement for Garcia’s stock going forward.
Kelvin Gastelum closed out his middleweight bout with a unanimous decision over Dustin Stoltzfus. Gastelum’s experience showed in the way he managed the clock and controlled the center. Stoltzfus stayed game, but Gastelum did the little things right—entries, exits, and clean counters—to collect rounds without giving up big moments.
The Noche UFC banner is built to spotlight Latin American talent and showcase high-energy matchups. San Antonio got that—fast finishes, seasoned hands doing veteran work, and a main event that delivered a genuine highlight. For Lopes, the spinning back elbow is the kind of clip that follows you into matchmaking meetings. For Silva, it’s a lesson wrapped in a hard night. For fans, it was proof that a card themed for celebration can still carry stakes and surprises.
What comes next at featherweight depends on timing and health, but the path is there. Lopes just proved he can close a show against a streaking opponent in a high-pressure slot. Give him a ranked dance partner and a co-main or headliner tag, and see whether this finish was a spark or the start of a run.
San Antonio won’t forget that sound—the thud of a spinning back elbow and an arena rising in one breath. That’s how star-building moments start in this sport.