Jean Silva lost his original opponent, but not his place in the featherweight title picture. Silva welcomes short-notice replacement Jose Delgado in the main event of Noche UFC on Saturday from Glendale, Arizona.
Silva (17-3) agrees with oddsmakers who have him as a four-to-one favorite against Delgado, replacing Yair Rodriguez. He believes "it will look easy." His assuredness doesn't come from arrogance, especially against an outspoken opponent, but from his preparation. Beating Rodriguez would've done more for his quest to challenge for the featherweight title, but Silva doesn't think the change in opponent changes his destiny.
"I don't think. I am sure that I'm next," Silva, using a Portuguese interpreter, told CBS Sports when asked if beating Delgado would earn him a title shot.
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Silva's certainty comes from a deep-rooted ambition. He has a reputation for being emotional. You see it inside the Octagon as he madly barks and snarls after a victory. You also saw it in a behind-the-scenes video for UFC 324, where he soaked the UFC championship in tears while pressing his head against it during a promotional shoot. Silva doesn't hide away from those feelings. He believes they will allow him to fulfill a UFC championship dream shared with his friends on the training mats.
"It's a dream. If you see a few years ago, I was a crazy guy with a dream. Now, I believe my craziness is bringing me to this moment," Silva said. " I just saw one of my best friends lose on 'Contender Series.' This dream is for a few guys. I'm close. So I put my emotions into this."
Delgado (12-2) is saying all the right things ahead of his short-notice main event. The task ahead is as tall as the height advantage he wields against Silva. Delgado jumps from fighting unranked competition to headlining Noche UFC against a Top 10 featherweight on the cusp of a title shot. A competitive performance would be commendable, but Delgado won't settle for that. He's betting on himself and his belief that Silva's antics don't make him any less human.
"This is a spot that elevates me immediately. This is a spot that I would be foolish to say no to," Delgado told CBS Sports. "I say yes to the opportunity to be great.
"His name is Jean; he's just a man, and he bleeds like every other man. I like that he brings in the antics; I like that he makes it a show. I like that he makes this bigger than what it is. But, at the end of the day, it's two guys going out there and trying to take what they believe is theirs. I'm going out there to take what I believe is mine, and that's legacy, that's greatness."
Noche UFC's main card is an embarrassment of riches, particularly for a UFC Fight Night. Two former UFC champions from Mexico, Alexa Grasso and Brandon Moreno, seek career redemption ahead of Mexican Independence Day. Grasso's fight with Manon Fiorot is particularly important after Valentina Shevchenko vacated the women's flyweight title.
Tommy McMillen and Marwan Rahiki could both be the next big thing, but only one of them will leave Glendale with their undefeated record intact. Curtis Blaydes returns five months after a heavyweight classic with Josh Hokit, fighting another new-age heavyweight, Waldo Cortes Acosta. Kicking off the main card is David Martinez, looking to set the tone for Mexico against veteran Dan Ige.
Let's take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.
UFC Fight Night card, odds
| Favorite | Underdog | Weightclass |
|---|---|---|
Jean Silva -410 | Jose Miguel Delgado +320 | Featherweight |
Joseph Morales -120 | Brandon Moreno +100 | Flyweight |
Tommy McMillen -142 | Marwan Rahiki +120 | Featherweight |
| Manon Fiorot -258 | Alexa Grasso +210 | Women's flyweight |
| Waldo Cortes Acosta -218 | Curtis Blaydes +180 | Heavyweight |
| David Martinez -440 | Dan Ige +340 | Bantamweight |
UFC Fight Night viewing information
Date: Saturday, Sept. 12 | Start time: 5 p.m. ET (Main card), 2 p.m. ET (Prelims)
Location: Desert Diamond Arena -- Glendale, Arizona
TV Channel: Paramount+ (subscribe now for as low as $8.99 per month)
Prediction
Jean Silva vs. Jose Miguel Delgado: Delgado's physical advantages cannot be ignored. He's four inches taller with a four-inch reach advantage, and his ability to switch stances is crucial to limiting Silva's weapons. The Octagon wall is lava for Delgado. He needs space to operate, and fighting southpaw could help him win the outside lead-foot battle. But a southpaw stance also leaves him vulnerable to Silva's nasty body kicks. If Delgado can execute it well, shifting between stances like Sean O'Malley will make him difficult to reach and disrupt Silva's rhythm.
Delgado's bigger problem is that he's taking an enormous step up on short notice. He doesn't have the wrestling or grappling to exploit Silva's weaknesses, and he's far less dangerous the longer a fight goes. Delgado couldn't put away Andre Fili, who has been stopped eight times, taking him to a split decision. Silva is a threat every second he's conscious. Every limb is lethal, and he can turn defense into offense instantly. Against Charles Jourdain, Silva framed on Jourdain's neck to defend a single-leg takedown. Silva freed his leg and immediately used that same frame to set up a knockout uppercut. Power and creative instincts are a dangerous combination. Look, Silva is an error-prone madman. Delgado's size and movement could give Silva problems early, but Silva will eventually close the distance and make him pay for all the smack talk leading into their fight. Pick: Silva via KO, Round 2
