Mexican fighter Yair Rodríguez has withdrawn from his scheduled main event against Jean Silva at Noche UFC on September 12 in Glendale, Arizona; the UFC is now searching for a new opponent for the Brazilian fighter, as confirmed by multiple sources to Heavy.com, MMAmania.com, and MMA Fighting.

Replacement in the Works

According to MMA Fighting and MMAmania.com, the UFC has already found a replacement. Jose Delgado has stepped in to face Jean Silva in the main event. Delgado (12-2) has won four of his UFC appearances and most recently defeated Andre Fili and Austin Bashi earlier this year. This will be his first main event in his native Arizona.

Silva (17-3) is coming off a decision win over Arnold Allen in January, which followed a loss to Diego Lopes in the previous Noche UFC event. Silva has been vocal about his desire to challenge for the UFC featherweight title, even stating he would leave the promotion if he lost a potential title fight.

Yair Rodríguez’s Absence

Yair Rodríguez (20-5) had not fought since April 2025, when he defeated Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision at UFC 314. That victory ended a two-fight losing streak against Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega. Rodríguez had been expected to headline a Noche UFC event for the first time, but his withdrawal leaves the card without a Mexican headliner.

According to MMAmania.com, Rodríguez’s absence is particularly notable given his inactivity and recent return to form. His last fight was over a year ago, and he had shown interest in moving up a weight class but accepted the Silva fight at featherweight instead.

Card Remains Strong

Despite the main event change, the Noche UFC card remains strong. The main card includes notable bouts such as Brandon Moreno vs. Joseph Morales and Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Curtis Blaydes. The preliminary card features fights like Tim Elliott vs. Edgár Cháirez and Rafa Garcia vs. Rongzhu.

The UFC is reportedly considering bumping up another previously signed three-round fight to the main event should Silva not remain as the headliner. However, sources suggest that Silva will stay on the card, and the new matchup with Delgado should provide a competitive and marketable fight.

With less than three weeks until the event, the UFC is working to finalize the main event and ensure the card remains a key stop on the Noche UFC schedule. The event will be held at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, continuing the tradition of high-profile Latin American fighters headlining in the U.S.