<p>Featherweight rivals Diego Lopes and Jean Silva will lead the Noche UFC event on Sunday, September 14, at 05:00 AM AEST at Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, USA.&nbsp;</p> <p>Both fighters have a lot to prove, and this may be the crucial fight with title implications. But who is going to come out of the Octagon victorious?</p> <h2>Diego Lopes vs Jean Silva: Tale of the Tape</h2> <p>What can we expect to see from the two athletes? Let’s compare their key attributes and statistics to try and identify potential betting opportunities. Lopes’s figures are first…</p> <ul> <li>Age - 30 vs 28</li> <li>Height - 5'11" (180cm) vs 5'7" (170cm)</li> <li>Weight - 145.0 lbs (65.8 kgs) vs 145.0 lbs (65.8 kgs)</li> <li>Record – 26-7-0 vs 16-2-0</li> </ul> <h2>Diego Lopes vs Jean Silva: Betting Preview</h2> <p>Lopes was the 2021 Lux Fight League champion prior to his involvement in Dana White’s Contender Series. Nonetheless, Joanderson Brito overcame him in the competition, which postponed his entry into the Las Vegas-based promotion.</p> <p>Following victories in two of his next three bouts outside the UFC, Lopes secured a roster position and made his promotional debut against Movsar Evloev at UFC 288 in May 2023. He was met with a harsh reception in the form of a unanimous decision defeat.</p> <p>The Brazilian fighter improved in his following five bouts, remaining unbeaten in that period to earn a shot at the UFC featherweight championship. In April, he competed against Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant title, but fell short with another decision defeat.</p> <p>Similar to Lopes, Silva reached the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series, winning his only fight in the tournament to earn a contract with the promotion in 2023. “Lord” quickly ascended the ranks by securing five consecutive victories.</p> <p>In June 2024, Silva won against Charles Jourdain in his UFC debut, then he added victories over Drew Dober, Melsik Baghdasaryan, and, most recently, Bryce Mitchell. This remarkable performance secured him a position in the 145-pound rankings.</p> <h2>Diego Lopes vs Jean Silva: Betting Predictions</h2> <p>Considering Silva's advanced and polished striking skills, we can anticipate that he will secure victory by unanimous decision. His exceptional counterstriking skills might enable him to deliver sharper and more powerful punches throughout the fight.</p> <p>The match guarantees thrills between two knockout specialists, but Silva’s strategic style might prove decisive. Despite Lopes possessing one-punch knockout capability, he often lowers his guard while throwing punches, which makes him vulnerable to counterattacks.</p> <p>This might be expensive for him, particularly given Silva's elite striking and power. Alexander Volkanovski capitalised on this defensive opening from Lopes during their title bout at UFC 314, delivering impactful strikes at the conclusion of each exchange.</p> <p>If Silva repeats this in this match, he has a higher likelihood of defeating Lopes. However, due to his resilience, toughness, and unyielding chin, it’s more probable that the fight will continue for the entire five rounds, with <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-matches/diego-lopes-v-jean-silva-9458549">Silva taking home the win</a>.</p>