Noche UFC 2026 returns to Glendale, Arizona, on September 12 with a card built around rising contenders, former champions and several undefeated prospects. Jean Silva now headlines against Jose Delgado after Yair Rodriguez withdrew, while Brandon Moreno, Alexa Grasso and Curtis Blaydes add plenty of experience to the main card. Here is everything fans need to know about the event, including the start time, full fight card, record.
Noche UFC 2026 Date, Time and Location
Noche UFC 2026 takes place Saturday, September 12, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.The preliminary card is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET, followed by the main card at 5 p.m. ET. Both portions of the event will stream on Paramount+. UFC lists the event as part of its annual Noche celebration during Mexican Independence Day weekend.For fans following the event from Brazil, the UFC lists the preliminaries for 3 p.m. BRT and the main card for 6 p.m. BRT.
Event: Noche UFC: Silva vs Delgado
Date: September 12, 2026
Venue: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Prelims: 2 p.m. ET
Main Card: 5 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Paramount+
Noche UFC 2026 Full Card and Fighter Records
Main Event: Jean Silva vs Jose Delgado
Silva 17-3-0 enters his second straight Noche UFC main event after beating Arnold Allen by unanimous decision in January. The No. 6-ranked featherweight owns 12 knockout wins, three submissions and 10 first-round finishes.Delgado has won four of his five UFC appearances and is coming off a unanimous decision over Austin Bashi. The Arizona-based MMA Lab representative has six knockout wins, four submissions and seven first-round finishes.The matchup changed when Yair Rodriguez withdrew because of an injury, giving Delgado a major opportunity against a ranked opponent.
Brandon Moreno vs Joseph Morales
Former UFC flyweight champion Moreno is looking to rebound after losing his most recent fight to Lone’er Kavanagh in February. Before that setback, Moreno stopped Tatsuro Taira and defeated Steve Erceg.Morales presents a very different challenge. The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 winner has won both fights since returning to the UFC and has eight submission victories on his professional record.
Tommy McMillen vs Marwan Rahiki
This is one of the card’s most intriguing prospect matchups. McMillen has won both of his UFC fights by stoppage, including his July victory over Alberto Montes.His previous result is covered in our Tommy McMillen vs Alberto Montes results.Rahiki is also unbeaten and has eight knockout wins from nine professional victories. UFC statistics show he has averaged 7.75 significant strikes landed per minute in his UFC career so far.
Manon Fiorot vs Alexa Grasso
A former title challenger meets a former champion in one of the strongest women’s fights on the card.Fiorot is ranked No. 2 at women’s flyweight and has won eight fights by knockout. Grasso, ranked No. 3, is coming off a first-round knockout of Maycee Barber in March. Grasso also holds the distinction of having defeated Valentina Shevchenko to become UFC women’s flyweight champion.
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Curtis Blaydes
The heavyweight matchup pits a powerful Dominican contender against one of the division’s most experienced wrestlers.Cortes-Acosta most recently lost a decision to Alexander Volkov after previously stopping Derrick Lewis. Blaydes returned to winning ways against Josh Hokit in April after his previous loss to Tom Aspinall.
David Martinez vs Dan Ige
Martinez 14-1-0 brings a 10-fight winning streak into the matchup and is ranked No. 8 at bantamweight. Ige, a longtime UFC veteran, is moving down to bantamweight after losing his last two fights. Martinez’s last victory came against Marlon Vera in February.
Noche UFC 2026 Preliminary Card
- Tim Elliott vs Edgar Chairez Tim Elliott 22-14-1; Edgar Chairez 14-6-0
- Ignacio Bahamondes vs Muslim Salikhov Ignacio Bahamondes 17-7-0; Muslim Salikhov 22-6-0
- Yousri Belgaroui vs Djorden Santos Yousri Belgaroui 10-3-0; Djorden Santos 11-3-0
- Drakkar Klose vs Thomas Gantt Drakkar Klose 16-3-1; Thomas Gantt 12-0-0
- Rafa Garcia vs Rongzhu Rafa Garcia 19-4-0; Rongzhu 28-6-0
- Sean King vs Jessie Rosas Sean King 6-0-0; Jessie Rosas 8-1-0
- JJ Aldrich vs Regina Tarin JJ Aldrich 15-7-0; Regina Tarin 8-0-0
Elliott and Chairez bring significant UFC experience to the flyweight matchup, while Bahamondes faces veteran striker Salikhov in his first UFC bout at welterweight.The lightweight clash between Klose and undefeated Thomas Gantt is another major test for a rising fighter. Gantt is 12-0 professionally and already owns a UFC win over Artur Minev.Rafa Garcia and Rongzhu also bring strong recent form, while Tarin enters her matchup with Aldrich unbeaten at 8-0.Fans looking for more context on the lightweight division can also check our UFC lightweight rankings.
What Happened to the Original Noche UFC Main Event?
Noche UFC initially had Jean Silva scheduled to face Yair Rodriguez.Rodriguez was forced out during fight preparation, opening the door for Jose Delgado to step into the main event. Delgado accepted the opportunity and now gets his biggest UFC test to date against the No. 6-ranked Silva. UFC’s official preview confirms the change and describes it as Silva’s second straight Noche UFC main event appearance.Another major card change involved Rodrigo Vera and Ramiro Jimenez. Their featherweight bout was canceled after visa issues prevented Vera from traveling to the United States. The UFC subsequently added Sean King vs Jessie Rosas to the lineup.
Which Fights Should Fans Watch Closely?
The main event naturally carries the most attention, but the card has several fights that could produce important divisional consequences.Silva vs Delgado is particularly interesting because Silva is already ranked while Delgado has the chance to make a major jump with a victory. Moreno vs Morales could also reshape Moreno’s position in the flyweight division.
Fiorot vs Grasso may have the clearest title implications. Both women remain near the top of the division, and a convincing victory could put the winner firmly into the next championship conversation.Meanwhile, McMillen vs Rahiki is a rare matchup between two undefeated UFC prospects. Both have already shown finishing ability, making it one of the fights most likely to produce a breakout performance.For readers who follow broader UFC event previews, our UFC Fight Night Card Preview and Predictions provides additional event coverage.
How to Watch Noche UFC 2026
Noche UFC 2026 will stream live on Paramount+.The preliminary card begins at 2 p.m. ET, while the six-fight main card starts at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 12. The event will be held at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Final Thoughts
Noche UFC 2026 has changed considerably since the original lineup was announced, but the revised card remains loaded with meaningful matchups.Jean Silva vs Jose Delgado gives an undefeated-in-four-of-five-UFC-fights contender a chance to break into the featherweight elite, while Brandon Moreno, Manon Fiorot, Alexa Grasso and Curtis Blaydes bring championship-level experience to the main card.The biggest attraction may ultimately be the collection of rising talent underneath them. McMillen vs Rahiki, Gantt vs Klose and King vs Rosas give several unbeaten fighters a chance to make their names on one of UFC’s most recognizable annual fight cards.
