8/19/26
UFC Noche, which is supposed to take place in Glendale, Arizona, on September 12th, just took a major blow after Yair Rodriguez pulled out of the fight. He was supposed to fight rising star and contender Jean Silva in a matchup that all MMA fans were looking forward to. Rodriguez has long been one of the best featherweights in the world despite his inactivity, and he even fought for the belt against current champion Alexander Volkanovski back in 2023. He has only fought twice since then, with one of those being a loss to Brian Ortega. His last fight was a win back in April 2025 over Patricio Pitbull. This was a major fight for him and one that, if he were to win, would put him back in title-contender talks.
The reason is unknown why Rodriguez won’t be fighting and could likely be an injury, but time will tell as more information comes out. This is a big blow for the card, though, which is less than a month away, as this was the headlining fight. It is also unfortunate for Jean Silva because, had he won this fight, it would be the biggest of his career and would propel his journey towards a title. It is rumored that the #14-ranked featherweight Jose Delgado will be named the replacement for the bout on short notice. This gives Delgado almost a month to prepare for one of the most dangerous fighters in the division, while Silva needs to rework his approach and game plan for a new opponent.
Bad news for Rodriguez, who has pulled out of three fights already in his career and has faced criticism for inactivity. In the end, though, Delgado steps up to the plate and saves the main event of a great card with a lot of young talent ready to put on a show. UFC Noche takes place on September 12th in Glendale, Arizona.