Silva, Delgado set for knockout artists' showdown

UFC featherweights Jean Silva (29, Brazil) and Jose Miguel Delgado (28, US/Mexico) could not be more different in how they sell a fight. Silva transforms into what he calls a "mad dog" once he steps into the cage, while Delgado has promised to deliver the most brutal finish of his career. The question is what the pairing of two knockout artists will produce inside the octagon.

UFC will hold "Noche UFC: Silva vs. Delgado" on Sunday (Korean Standard Time) at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The event marks the fourth edition of Noche UFC, the promotion's annual card celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

Silva (17-3), headlining Noche UFC for the second consecutive year, ranks third all-time among UFC featherweights with 1.55 knockdowns landed per 15 minutes. Delgado (12-2) sits fifth in the same category at 1.24. Twelve of Silva's 17 wins have come by knockout, while six of Delgado's 12 have ended the same way — finish rates of 88 percent and 83 percent, respectively, that mark both men as explosive finishers.

Silva is known for a signature cage-side ritual: crouching down and barking like a dog at his opponent just before the bell. What starts as laughter from the crowd, unsure whether it is a joke, quickly turns serious once he unleashes his attacks.

Ranked No. 6 in the featherweight division and among the contenders for a future title shot, Silva predicted a knockout finish. "I merely have to trust the madness in me," he said. "Trusting the madness in me and continuing to dream — that is my job."

Delgado, wary of his opponent, said, "The only way to describe him is a pit bull." Still, he promised, "I am going to show the most vicious finish you have ever seen."

The bout came together after Silva's original opponent, Yair Rodriguez, withdrew a month earlier. "This is exactly what I wanted," Delgado said of accepting the short-notice offer. "I called for a chance to become great, and for years I called for Jean Silva."

"I applaud this tough guy for accepting the fight four weeks out," Silva said. "Delgado might think this is just an opportunity that fell into his lap by chance, but my strategy is set, it suits his style well, and this is going to be a great fight," he added, expressing confidence.

In the co-main event, two-time former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (32, Mexico) will face Joseph Morales (32, US/Mexico), winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" season 33 flyweight tournament.

The event's main card will stream exclusively on Tving starting at 6 a.m. Sunday. Silva is scheduled to visit South Korea to meet fans after the event.