Predicting UFC Noche: Silva v Delgado
by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen
Sportz Nation - 9/11/2026
In our FN Paris Hooker v Parnasse Predictions, which you can find here,
Zak went 4-2 in picks with 4 method for 8 points.
Matt went 3-3 in picks with 2 method for 5 points.
Points To Date:
Zak: 178 (118-66)
Matt: 160 (104-74)
*All odds courtesy of Caesar's Sportsbook on 9/11
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6Jean Silva vs
Jose Delgado
(Silva -420)
Zak Drapeau -
This fight was originally supposed to be Silva vs. Rodriguez before Yair got injured a few weeks ago. In steps Jose Delgado on a 2-fight win streak and winner of 4 of his 5 UFC fights. Silva also has only 1 UFC loss to his name, and yet his level within the UFC is noticeably higher and has been Top-10 at Featherweight since early last year.
On top of the difference in competition and ranking, Silva has a big difference in preparation with just about twice as long of a camp as Delgado. Not that it matters too much with both of these guys having incredible cardio and a largely strike-heavy style. Even though Delgado has a pretty big size advantage in this one, Silva definitely has the grappling advantage if he chooses to pressure Delgado against the cage or bring him to the ground. That being said, I don't think he will; I think we'll see a knockout before it's all said and done.
Prediction: Silva by TKO/KO
Matt Hylen -
I think this fight could be a lot closer than people think. Stylistically, this is going to be a chess match between two very skilled strikers. Jean Silva is more of the brawler type, but Jose Delgado's length and ability to keep the distance may make this a bit tougher for Silva than expected.
With that said, it's tough not to go with Jean Silva here. This is a massive step for Delgado, especially on short notice. Delgado can absolutely win this fight using his devastating timing with his knees, but I think Silva's combinations and style can counter nicely when Delgado inevitably throws a knee. Silva has also fought way heftier competition and has beaten them, making me believe this should be a stepping stone fight for Jean.
Prediction: Silva by Decision
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8Brandon Moreno vs
Joseph Morales
(Pick 'Em)
Zak Drapeau -
Here is the everlasting question in combat sports: die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain. Moreno is one of his division's all-time greats and a legend in the sport for a long time, but we're starting to see his decline.
Joseph Morales left and came back to the UFC just over a year ago and has looked completely reinvigorated. A choke specialist who will patiently counterpunch until you try to take him down and make you pay for it. Something not out of the realm of possibility in this one, but I think Moreno's traditional boxing style will stay true. Even though he's not going to be in any more wars like we saw with Figueiredo, I think Moreno still has a win in him, and this one is it.
Prediction: Moreno by Decision
Matt Hylen -
It's been really sad to watch the fall of Brandon Moreno; this extreme step down in competition feels like the UFC is trying to salvage his career by throwing him a bone and hoping he takes advantage. Joseph Morales is not a bad fighter by any means, but isn't nearly good enough to become a legitimate ranked contender in my eyes.
I think Moreno has a great opportunity to show out in front of his home crowd. He always finds a way to win on UFC Noche, so I am interested to see what version of Moreno we see. If he can implement his underrated grappling to go along with his striking, I think it can give Morales a world of problems and give us one last Moreno win.
Prediction: Moreno by TKO/KO
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Tommy McMillen vs
Marwan Rahiki
(McMillen -165)
Zak Drapeau -
There is a certain variable in some fighters you can't teach and is only present in some of the biggest bada**es in the sport: Balls. Both of these guys are undefeated and top prospects in the Lightweight division, but Tommy McMillen needs special-order shorts for his... variables.
Not to downplay how close this matchup is, Marwan Rahiki is a sharp and violent kickboxer with all 9 of his professional fights ending by stoppage. Then you have McMillen, who is more of a precision striker who looks to impose his will on you and maybe not turn your lights out, but almost take your will to stay in the fight away, very similar to his training partner Sean O'Malley. Rahiki could look to end the fight early, but with McMillen's striking and size, this fight will more likely go into the 2nd and 3rd rounds where I think McMillen will pull away.
Prediction: McMillen by Decision
Matt Hylen -
This is, by far and away, the fight I am most excited to see. Two of, if not the two biggest, unranked prospects in the Featherweight division going at it in what should be an all-out brawl. It's rare you see a matchup like this in the UFC between two hyped prospects, but I am personally so interested to see who can get the upper hand.
Starting with McMillen, this guy can throw all day long if he has to. Setting the record for most significant strikes thrown in a 3-round fight in UFC history, McMillen's cardio and willpower are among the best in the entire promotion. His precision matches his power, with a mixture of heavy head punches and devastating bodywork. However, the biggest flaw is his defense; he tends to get reckless and oftentimes will get caught by a counter.
Marwan Rahiki is also that dude. He may not look like it, but the power this man possesses is otherworldly. All Rahiki needs is one to land and his opponent is sent to the floor. I think Rahiki can absolutely take advantage of McMillen's reckless tendencies with his elite counter-punch style of striking, so long as he can stay off the cage. McMillen does his best work when pressuring his opponents and pinning them against the cage. If Rahiki can find a way to keep moving laterally, I think he will find that big punch that could end McMillen's night.
Prediction: Rahiki by TKO/KO
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2Manon Fiorot vs
3Alexa Grasso
(Fiorot -250)
Zak Drapeau -
I know we saw Mackenzie Dern defend her title just a month ago, but this fight between Grasso and Fiorot is probably the biggest fight in the UFC's women's divisions in 2026. How THIS fight is being passed over by Silva vs. Cong for the flyweight title is beyond me because this fight is the one.
With Shevchenko out indefinitely, Fiorot is probably the best striker in the division, and Grasso is the best wrestler and a former champion herself. Fiorot is the heavy favorite, understandably so due to her track record of facing the best of the best in the division and only losing a razor-close decision to Shevchenko 16 months ago. Grasso is coming off a fight that should win KO of the year herself and looks ready to make one more run for the title. But if we see the same Manon Fiorot we're used to, this WILL be an excellent fight, but she'll have her hand raised.
Prediction: Fiorot by Decision
Matt Hylen -
This fight will either be absolutely insane or boring due to hesitancy. Both Alexa Grasso and Manon Fiorot have shown throughout their careers how dangerous they can be, possessing power that we rarely see in Women's MMA. I was very high on Manon Fiorot last year, predicting that she would become the champion by the end of 2025, but I am not so sure she will be able to beat a tactician like Grasso.
For someone so powerful, Grasso never rushes her strikes. She never produces the most output, but when she does it always counts. Fiorot, like I mentioned about Tommy McLillen, is a pressure kickboxer that likes to control the center. Grasso has no problem fighting along the outside; we saw in her last fight what she can do when she is being pressured from the center. Grasso, I think, could also implement her grappling ability to find a submission, which is a severely underrated part of her game. I just think there is too much Grasso can beat Fiorot compared to just the striking of Fiorot. I would not be shocked at all if Fiorot finds a punch that gets the job done, but I like the experience and patience more of Grasso right now over Fiorot's power.
Prediction: Grasso by Submission
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5Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs
6Curtis Blaydes
(Cortes-Acosta -190)
Zak Drapeau -
Man, this card is deep. The fact we get a Top-6 Heavyweight fight to OPEN the main card this weekend is insane, and getting that out of the way, doesn't this one feel almost disappointing before it even happens? WCA had a lot of momentum last year before losing his last outing to Volkov, and Blaydes has been a staple in the rankings for 7 years now but has shown too many times he can't win the big fights.
For more than 2 years now, Blaydes has changed his style and fought a much more boxing-heavy style rather than his amateur wrestling background. Meanwhile, WCA may have been stifled by the veteran and long striker Volkov in his last fight, but he's been tearing through the division and doing it with power as of late. Even though Blaydes went toe to toe with Hokit and went to the final bell, I think Cortes-Acosta's power is different and will end it early.
Prediction: Cortes-Acosta by TKO/KO
Matt Hylen -
Another fight which should be extremely fun to watch. Both Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Curtis Blaydes are coming off tough losses, but still have the potential to get back on the upward trajectory.
First off, I think Curtis Blaydes is coming back way too soon after the absolute war he went through against Josh Hokit. Coming back 5 months after getting absolutely battered and broken down on the feet seems way too ambitious, especially against a powerful striker like Cortes-Acosta. I think Blaydes showed that he could stand with anybody in his last fight, but Cortes-Acosta is a phenomenal striker with extreme power even for Heavyweight. Cortes-Acosta should get this one done rather quickly in my eyes.
Prediction: Cortes-Acosta by TKO/KO
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8David Martinez vs
Dan Ige
(Martinez -420)
Zak Drapeau -
I was confused when this fight was announced and I still am, but I'm here for the violence. Dan Ige has lost 4 of his last 5, and even though he's a true warrior and has been fighting some elite competition in this dry spell, the fact that his next fight is against a #8 ranked fighter seems like one of the most unjustified ranked fights I've ever seen. Maybe it's because he's debuting at Bantamweight for the first time, but that doesn't really do it for me either.
Ige making his Bantamweight debut will be the story in this one and will have a good size advantage against his younger and ranked opponent. Coming down in a division is always tough for fighters like Ige, who will lose some power in doing so. When it comes to a fight against a guy like Martinez, Ige needs anything that could help in this one against the undefeated Mexican, and that would probably have to include a miracle.
Prediction: Martinez by Decision
Matt Hylen -
Again, another potential war incoming, but one I think should not last very long. To keep this one short and sweet, Doc Martinez is on the upward trajectory while Dan Ige's best days are clearly behind him. Sure, Ige has the potential to win this fight in one clean shot, but Martinez is far too technical for me to think Ige can put up any sort of fight.
We all know how durable and tough Dan Ige is; the guy is so hard to put away. So, while I don't think this fight ends early, I do think it will be domination for the side of David Martinez. Martinez has shown time and time again how consistent he is on the feet, using a variety of punch and kick combinations to break down his opponent. I think Martinez finds the strike and gives us a nasty combination to put Ige back in the loss column.
Prediction: Martinez by TKO/KO
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