Lopes detonates a spinning elbow to close the show in San Antonio
San Antonio got a highlight-reel finish to cap a packed fight day. At Noche UFC—UFC Fight Night: Lopes vs. Silva—Diego Lopes iced Jean Silva with a brutal spinning back elbow and follow-up punches, a clean stoppage that jolted the Frost Bank Center on September 13, 2025. The early 2:00 PM start time didn’t dull the noise; it amplified it, as the UFC tied the show to Mexican Independence Day weekend and leaned into a fan base that showed up loud.
For Lopes, this wasn’t just a win—it was the statement he needed. Silva arrived red-hot, throwing with confidence and trying to bully exchanges. Lopes didn’t bite. He managed distance, mixed his looks, and when Silva pressed in the pocket, Lopes snapped the momentum with the elbow you don’t see until it’s too late. The finish flipped a tough recent stretch for the Brazilian-Mexican fan favorite into a surge of momentum at featherweight.
What does it mean for the division? Lopes slots himself right back among the names circling contender status. He has the kind of power-and-craft package that makes matchmaking fun: a striker-versus-striker clash with a top-10 kickboxer, or a style test against a veteran grappler. Either way, this KO puts him on the shortlist for a marquee opponent before year’s end.
The arena—home of the Spurs and recently rebranded as the Frost Bank Center—has hosted several UFC stops over the last decade. This return played like a celebration: an afternoon card that moved briskly, a main event finish fans will replay all week, and a slate stacked with fighters tied to Mexico either by passport, gym, or pride.
Weight drama, quick finishes, and a split-decision squeeze: key results and takeaways
The biggest storyline before the main event belonged to Kelvin Gastelum, who missed weight by more than five pounds on Friday. Dustin Stoltzfus agreed to keep the bout alive, and Gastelum made good on fight night, banking a much-needed victory. It won’t erase the miss—those headlines stick—but it steadied a veteran who’s had to navigate tough cuts, schedule shifts, and a brutal strength of competition for years. Expect questions about his ideal division to linger.
Flyweight delivered chaos in a flash. Alessandro Costa stopped Alden Coria by TKO at 0:47 of Round 3, a late surge that rewarded his pressure and body work. Costa had been chipping away, and when Coria faded, he slammed the door with urgency. In a division where activity and finishing ability are currency, this one helps Costa’s stock.
Montserrat Rendon edged Alice Pereira by split decision in a tight three-rounder at women’s bantamweight. If you like layered striking and small adjustments, this was your fight: jabs to disrupt rhythm, counters after feints, and enough positional battles along the fence to keep judges busy. Rendon’s composure in the final minute likely swung a card or two—fine margins that matter when matchmaking gets crowded.
Rodrigo Sezinando wasted no time, blasting through Daniil Donchenko for a first-round TKO. The read came early; once Sezinando found the range, he didn’t give Donchenko a second chance. It’s the kind of quick finish that earns another step up and a spot on the highlight reels that run all week across social feeds.
Rafa Garcia added a TKO over Jared Gordon, a quality scalp given Gordon’s experience and toughness. Garcia pushed pace, worked his entries, and denied Gordon the extended pocket exchanges that usually let him build volume. For Garcia, who’s carved out a reputation as a grinder, a stoppage like this rebrands him a bit—threat as well as pressure.
Not everything found clean resolution. Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas was ruled a no contest just 51 seconds into Round 1. The abrupt stop left both men frustrated and the crowd buzzing for details. These outcomes usually lead to a run-it-back conversation; both camps will likely push for a quick rebooking.
Beyond the individual results, the afternoon slot was by design. The UFC has turned this weekend into an annual tradition, framing cards around Mexican talent and fan energy, dating back to when the promotion first branded an Independence Day showcase two years ago. San Antonio fit the brief—easy travel, a proven arena, and a crowd that treats every near-finish like a title bout.
Here’s how the key fights shook out:
- Featherweight main event: Diego Lopes def. Jean Silva — KO (spinning back elbow, follow-up strikes)
- Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum def. Dustin Stoltzfus — decision on the books after Gastelum missed weight by over five pounds
- Flyweight: Alessandro Costa def. Alden Coria — TKO, Round 3 (0:47)
- Women’s bantamweight: Montserrat Rendon def. Alice Pereira — split decision
- Middleweight: Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas — no contest, Round 1 (0:51)
- Lightweight: Rafa Garcia def. Jared Gordon — TKO
- Middleweight: Rodrigo Sezinando def. Daniil Donchenko — TKO, Round 1
The matchmakers now have options. Lopes is postseason material at featherweight; a top-tier test would answer whether he’s peaking into a title run. Gastelum’s future likely hinges on discipline at the scale more than anything he does in the cage—he still beats good pros when he’s locked in. Garcia’s finish opens doors in a deep lightweight queue, and Rendon’s grind-it-out win sets her up for a name with ranking proximity.
As for the event itself, the 2:00 PM local start created a different rhythm—families in the building, fight fans juggling late lunches with early knockouts, and an international-friendly broadcast window. It worked. San Antonio leaned into the moment, and the fighters paid it off with pace and finishes. One spinning elbow later, they also gave the weekend the viral clip it wanted.
