The UFC’s yearly tribute to Mexican Independence Day saw the Octagon land in Glendale, Arizona, delivering an electrifying night of fights at Desert Diamond Arena, highlighted by three standout victories from Mexican fighters.
Here’s our updated power ranking breakdown from UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Delgado.
Following his previous win over Alberto Montes, undefeated featherweight prospect Tommy McMillen aimed to face a Mexican opponent at Noche UFC. While he didn’t get that matchup, Marwan Rahiki provided a formidable challenge, pushing McMillen in what became the night’s most thrilling contest. Their back-and-forth battle lasted the full three five-minute rounds, with relentless action throughout. McMillen’s strong finish in the final round earned him a unanimous decision victory, showcasing his toughness and high-energy fighting style. Positioned in a deep featherweight division, McMillen continues to build momentum toward bigger, high-stakes matchups.
After falling to Diego Lopes at last year’s Noche UFC in San Antonio, Brazilian featherweight contender Jean Silva was determined to make an impact. Despite a slow start with minimal offense in Round 1, Silva came alive in Round 2, eventually taking down Jose Miguel Delgado and securing a win via a one-armed rear-naked choke submission. In a bold post-fight gesture, Silva climbed out of the Octagon to present UFC CBO Hunter Campbell with his MMA gloves as “a gift from your next champion.” In addition to a $100,000 performance bonus, Silva is clearly setting his sights on a shot at the undisputed featherweight title.
Representing Mexico with pride, Alexa Grasso reaffirmed her status as a serious contender by defeating former title challenger Manon Fiorot at 125 pounds. Grasso landed a powerful punch that staggered Fiorot and utilized her well-rounded game to claim a unanimous decision victory. With the flyweight belt now vacant and set to be contested between Natalia Silva and Wang Cong, Grasso’s strong showing may place her next in line for a title shot.
Another prominent Mexican star, two-time former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, faced a tough challenge from Joseph Morales in a bantamweight bout. Despite the tight contest, Moreno emerged victorious by split decision, proving his resilience and continued relevance in his weight class. Moreno asserted his belief that he remains the top flyweight, and his ability to grind out a win against a tough opponent keeps him in the championship conversation.
David Martinez, aiming to solidify his status among the UFC’s bantamweight elite, faced former featherweight veteran Dan Ige. Although Ige was not a higher-ranked fighter at 135 pounds, the bout was a significant challenge for Martinez, who risked losing his ranking with a poor performance. Demonstrating skill and consistency, Martinez outworked Ige across three rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory, extending his impressive win streak to 11. Having defeated respected veterans like Rob Font, Marlon Vera, and now Ige, Martinez appears ready to test himself against top-tier contenders, possibly earning a title shot.
Fan Take: This event not only highlighted the rising Mexican talent reshaping the UFC landscape but also reinforced the depth across multiple divisions. For fighting fans, it signals an exciting next chapter where emerging stars like McMillen and Martinez could soon join established champions in redefining the sport’s competitive frontier.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
