Jeang Silva submits Delgado in round 3, calls shot for featherweight title

Silva beats Delgado to demand featherweight title shot

Moreno wins split decision over Morales

Jeang Silva (left) faces Jose Miguel Delgado in the main event of Noche UFC: Silva vs. Delgado at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday (Korean Standard Time). Silva won by submission in round 3. [UFC]

Jeang Silva of Brazil has won back-to-back fights and is making his case for a UFC featherweight title shot.

Silva, ranked sixth in the UFC featherweight division (65.8 kilograms), submitted Jose Miguel Delgado of the United States and Mexico at 2 minutes 57 seconds of round 3 via a one-arm rear-naked choke in the main event of Noche UFC: Silva vs. Delgado at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday (Korean Standard Time). Noche UFC is a special event held in honor of Mexican Independence Day and this year marked its fourth edition.

The victory gave the 29-year-old Silva his second straight win, following a triumph over Arnold Allen in January. His overall record stands at 18-3, with a 7-1 mark inside the UFC.

Silva was knocked down in the first round after absorbing a straight and a left uppercut combination from Delgado, but he weathered the storm through wrestling. In the second round, Silva turned up the pressure, secured a takedown and landed ground-and-pound strikes. The decisive third round saw him drop Delgado with a right straight near the cage wall. In the ensuing scramble, Silva took back position and locked in a rear-naked choke with his left arm alone, forcing the tap.

Brandon Moreno (left) throws a punch at Joseph Morales. [UFC]

In his post-fight interview, Silva declared, "Whoever holds the champion's belt — the new champion is right here." Champion Alexander Volkanovski is set to defend his title against No. 1-ranked Mofsar Yevloyev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Oct. 25.

In the co-main event, former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, 32, of Mexico made his Noche UFC debut and earned a split decision victory (28-29, 30-27, 30-27) over Joseph Morales, 32, of the United States and Mexico, who won the TUF 33 flyweight tournament.

Meanwhile, former UFC women's flyweight champion and current No. 3-ranked Alexa Grasso, 33, of Mexico overwhelmed No. 2-ranked Manon Fiorot, 36, of France with relentless boxing pressure to claim a unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

yjc@heraldcorp.com