When a highly anticipated grudge match falls apart, the fallout is never quiet, which is exactly what happened with Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez ahead of Noche UFC. What began as a possible clash filled with personal tension quickly shifted, leaving Lopes to face rising competitor Jean Silva instead. Fans were left wondering why the fight didn’t go as planned, and Lopes isn’t holding back in revealing exactly why.

Diego Lopes reveals Yair Rodriguez declined the Noche UFC bout

The feud between Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez has been building for months, dating back to UFC 314 in April 2025. Rodriguez, also known as “El Pantera,” had defeated Patricio “Pitbull” Freire on the same card when Lopes faced Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title, which Lopes eventually lost.

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