Glendale, Arizona — Saturday, September 12, 2026
Noche UFC returns for its fourth annual edition with a fight card built around Mexican Independence Day weekend. The event takes place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, with a stacked lineup featuring former champions, ranked contenders and several highly regarded prospects.
The main card begins at 5:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+, with prelims scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET.
Main Event: Jean Silva vs. Jose Miguel Delgado
Featherweight
The spotlight belongs to No. 6-ranked Jean Silva, who returns to the Noche UFC main event for a second consecutive year. Originally scheduled to face Yair Rodriguez, Silva now meets Arizona native Jose Miguel Delgado after Rodriguez withdrew because of injury.
Silva is the more established UFC contender and brings considerable finishing ability, but Delgado presents an intriguing challenge. The unbeaten prospect has a significant height and reach advantage and has shown a willingness to engage in dangerous exchanges.
Key question: Can Delgado use his size and range to keep Silva at the end of his strikes, or will Silva turn the fight into the kind of chaotic firefight he prefers?
Prediction: Jean Silva by KO/TKO, Round 2
Co-Main Event: Brandon Moreno vs. Joseph Morales
Flyweight
Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno faces one of the biggest tests of his current career against Joseph Morales, winner of The Ultimate Fighter Season 33
Moreno needs a statement performance. The former champion has gone 4-5 over his last nine UFC appearances and enters Noche UFC following consecutive defeats.
Morales, meanwhile, has momentum. After returning to the UFC through TUF 33, he has recorded two straight finishes and now has an opportunity to defeat a former champion and potentially break into the rankings.
Prediction: Brandon Moreno by decision
Manon Fiorot vs. Alexa Grasso
Women’s Flyweight
This could be the most important fight on the card from a title-picture perspective.
Manon Fiorot, ranked No. 2, has established herself as one of the division’s elite contenders, while former champion Alexa Grasso is attempting to rebuild her championship credentials. Fiorot has gone 8-1 in the UFC and owns victories over several major contenders.
Grasso’s confidence received a major boost from her first-round finish of Maycee Barber, but Fiorot presents a very different stylistic problem: distance management, athleticism and long-range striking.
With the women’s flyweight title picture changing rapidly, the winner could put herself in position for a championship opportunity.
Prediction: Manon Fiorot by unanimous decision
Waldo Cortes Acosta vs. Curtis Blaydes
Heavyweight
A dangerous heavyweight matchup between No. 5 Waldo Cortes Acosta and No. 6 Curtis Blaydes.
Cortes Acosta will want to use his boxing and pace, while Blaydes’ traditional path to victory involves wrestling, top control and grinding opponents down. The key question is whether Blaydes can consistently impose his wrestling against a younger, athletic opponent.
Prediction: Waldo Cortes Acosta by decision
Tommy McMillen vs. Marwan Rahiki
Featherweight
Two undefeated UFC prospects collide in one of the card’s most intriguing fights.
Both fighters are coming off consecutive stoppage victories after earning UFC contracts through Dana White’s Contender Series. Their contrasting personalities have also made this matchup particularly heated, with the rivalry escalating during fight week.
This has all the ingredients of a breakout performance.
Prediction: Tommy McMillen by KO/TKO
David Martinez vs. Dan Ige
Bantamweight
Rising Mexican talent David Martinez meets experienced Hawaiian veteran Dan Ige.
Martinez enters as the higher-ranked fighter and will look to establish himself as a serious contender, while Ige brings experience and toughness that can make him dangerous against anyone.
Prediction: David Martinez by decision
Prelims to Watch
Tim Elliott vs. Edgar Chairez — A fascinating flyweight/catchweight matchup between two experienced submission specialists.
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Muslim Salikhov — A striking battle that could produce some of the night’s best technical exchanges.
Yousri Belgaroui vs. Djorden Santos — Belgaroui brings significant kickboxing experience into the matchup.
Drakkar Klose vs. Tommy Gantt — A lightweight contest with potential for a fast-paced battle.
Rafa Garcia vs. Rongzhu — Two experienced lightweights looking to gain momentum.
Sean King vs. Jessie Rosas — A featherweight prospect matchup.
JJ Aldrich vs. Regina Tarin — A women’s flyweight contest rounding out the preliminaries.
With the women’s flyweight championship picture in transition, a dominant victory could dramatically elevate either contender.
