Lopes Earns Thrilling Stoppage at Noche UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship celebrated Mexican Independence Day in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, September 13, with a memorable Noche UFC event headlined by a featherweight clash between two Brazilian powerhouses. In the main event, No. 2 ranked contender Diego Lopes overcame an aggressive second round from Jean Silva to secure a dramatic TKO victory at 4:48 of the second frame. After dominating the first round on the ground, Lopes ended a wild striking exchange by landing a perfectly timed spinning back elbow that sliced Silva open, leading to the decisive finish. The victory keeps Lopes firmly in the featherweight title picture.
Gastelum’s Controversial Win and a Stunning Debut
The main card was filled with noteworthy performances and a significant controversy. Former interim middleweight title challenger Kelvin Gastelum secured a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Dustin Stoltzfus with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28. However, the victory was overshadowed by Gastelum missing the middleweight limit by a substantial five pounds, weighing in at 191 pounds. In his post-fight interview, Gastelum called the win “bittersweet” and apologized for the weight miss.
Other main card highlights included:
- Santiago Luna made a spectacular UFC debut, weathering an early storm from Quang Le to score a knockout victory at 2:48 of the first round, delighting the partisan crowd.
- Alexander Hernandez continued his impressive run, earning his second TKO win in just four weeks by finishing Diego Ferreira in the second round.
- In a historic moment on the prelims, 19-year-old Alice Pereira became the youngest woman to ever compete in the UFC. Despite her youth, she faced Montserrat Rendon, an opponent 17 years her senior, ultimately losing a split decision.
Fighters Shine and Stumble Beyond the Octagon
The weekend’s action was not confined to the UFC cage. On Friday, September 12, UFC bantamweight contender Bryce Mitchell, known for his elite grappling, suffered a stunning upset at the Eddie Bravo Invitational 25. The 30-year-old was submitted via a leg lock in under one minute by 19-year-old BJJ prospect Landon Elmore in the tournament’s semifinals.
Meanwhile, another former UFC star found success in a different arena. Molly “Meatball” McCann made her professional boxing debut on Saturday in Belfast. The 35-year-old delivered an emphatic performance, stopping Kate Radomska in the sixth round after her corner threw in the towel. McCann, who retired from MMA in March, has embarked on a new chapter in her combat sports career with a multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing.
McGregor Confirms Role in Historic White House Event
Looking ahead, the UFC is planning one of its most ambitious events to date. Former two-division champion Conor McGregor has confirmed he will be part of the fight card planned for the White House lawn in June 2026. The spectacle is intended to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. “That’s a definitely, that’s for sure,” McGregor stated. “That’s my event.”
UFC CEO Dana White has acknowledged the event, noting that security will be a major factor, with attendance likely limited to under 5,000 people. While McGregor seems set for the card, another legendary champion, Jon Jones, is also campaigning for a spot. According to reports from digitaltrendstoday.com, Jones is training consistently to prove his reliability to UFC leadership in hopes of being chosen for the historic event, despite White expressing skepticism due to the fighter’s past issues.
