UFC has made the top of its Noche UFC card official, confirming Yair Rodriguez vs. Jean Silva as the September 12, 2026 main event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The confirmation came Tuesday at a State Farm Stadium press conference where TKO, the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance and Legends Global laid out the first events under a seven-event, three-year partnership. Dana White, Sean O’Malley and Brandon Moreno were among those who spoke on stage.
The featherweight headliner had been reported on August 1 by ESPN Brasil, but the promotion had not put its name behind it until now. Rodriguez is a former interim featherweight champion. TKO’s announcement described Silva as one of the fastest-rising contenders in the division.
Grasso vs. Fiorot Added To Noche UFC 4
Two more bouts were confirmed alongside the main event. Alexa Grasso, a former women’s flyweight champion currently ranked No. 3, will face No. 2-ranked Manon Fiorot. It marks Grasso’s third appearance on a Noche UFC card.
Brandon Moreno also lands on the card for the first time. The former flyweight champion meets Joseph Morales, who won Season 33 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Curtis Blaydes vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta was previously reported for the same card, though that heavyweight matchup was not among the bouts named in Tuesday’s announcement.
Zuffa Boxing Is Arizona-Bound
Zuffa Boxing, the promotion led by White and Nick Khan, is part of the same Arizona agreement. TKO says details on future Zuffa Boxing events in the state will be announced at a later date.
The wider deal is TKO’s first with a state-level organization covering UFC, WWE, PBR and Zuffa Boxing. WWE’s Royal Rumble heads to State Farm Stadium in February 2027, and the PBR World Finals: Championship runs May 20-23, 2027 at Desert Diamond Arena.
This will be the fourth edition of Noche UFC and the first held at Desert Diamond Arena. The event celebrates Mexican Independence Day and is built around Mexican and Latin American talent. Tickets are on sale now.
Full details are available in TKO’s official announcement.
