Overview

• Diego Lopes, ranked No. 2, meets No. 10 Jean Silva on Sept. 13 at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center in the Noche UFC 3 headliner.
• Silva told MMA Junkie his team nearly brawled with Lopes’ team at the fighter hotel this week, saying security stepped in.
• Silva offered to bet his entire purse that Lopes would not land a takedown, a wager Lopes declined while predicting Silva will lose.
• Bloody Elbow’s staff predictions largely pick Silva to score an upset over the higher-ranked former title challenger.
• Lopes enters off an April decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant belt, and the winner is expected to be positioned among the next eligible challengers at featherweight.