Noche UFC 3 is less than 24 hours away …
It all goes down this weekend (Sat., Sept. 13, 2025) inside Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. In the main event, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight title contenders collide as No. 2-ranked Diego Lopes tries to hold off the surging Brazilian killer, Jean Silva.
We have a weekly series at MMAmania.com called “Weekend Lock,” where we share one bet that we predict will slap in “Alamo City” when the chaotic dust settles. We also want to hear what our readers think (that’s you!), so please tell us your most confident Noche UFC 3 betting lock in the comments section below (see full Noche UFC 3 odds here).
Last week’s recap: Annnd our streak has ended as Brad Tavares did not win a decision; instead, he got knocked out by Poland’s Robert Bryczek.
Let’s keep on, keeping on below:
Noche UFC 3’s 145-pound main event is such a banger that I have to make a bet on it, right?
Well, I am, and this week, I’m locking in Silva to Win & Over 1.5 Rounds at +150.
Here’s why:
Silva has been nothing short of sensational since arriving in UFC. Explosive, composed and technically sharp, he’s blasted through opposition with a combination of crisp boxing, athletic movement and underrated defensive skills. Through five Octagon appearances, Silva hasn’t just won — he’s looked like a future contender in the making. Part of this pick is gut, because when a fighter consistently looks this good, you ride the wave until proven otherwise.
Lopes is no easy task, though.
He might be coming off a title fight loss, but he’s got a lethal submission game and a willingness to trade in chaos. But, that style also creates openings. Lopes can be hittable, and Silva has the composure and precision to capitalize. The “Over 1.5” rounds angle fits because Lopes is notoriously durable and scrappy — he doesn’t fold early, even when hurt. Silva, meanwhile, has shown patience in breaking down opponents rather than recklessly chasing the kill shot at times.
Put those factors together, and you get a recipe for Silva steadily solving Lopes, pushing the fight past seven minutes before taking over with sharper striking and better control in later exchanges.
What could go wrong?
Lopes is chaos incarnate. He can lock up a guillotine or triangle in a blink, and his aggression often turns clean, technical fights into unpredictable scraps. If Silva makes a single mistake in a scramble or lets Lopes dictate pace, the bet could unravel quickly. And no, this bet isn’t a fade on Lopes because of the Alexander Volkanovski fight — more of a recognition that I’ve picked against Silva a lot … and he’s proven me wrong every time.
For what it’s worth, this X/Twitter user is also riding with Silva:
FEATHERWEIGHT FRENZY! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heads to Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Sat., Sept. 13, 2025, for Noche UFC 3, celebrating Mexican Independence Day with a stacked fight card. In the main event, former Featherweight title challenger, Diego Lopes, faces dynamic striker, Jean Silva, in a heated cultural rivalry scheduled for five, five-minute rounds. In Noche UFC 3’s co-headliner, Bantamweight veteran, Rob Font, takes on rising Mexican star, David Martinez, both vying for a pivotal win in the 135-pound division. All that and SO MUCH MORE!
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire Noche UFC 3 fight card, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 6 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To checkout the latest and greatest Noche UFC 3: “Lopes vs. Silva” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
