Top UFC featherweight contender Jean Silva submitted rising prospect Jose Delgado in the main event of Noche UFC 4 yesterday inside Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Silva's performance wasn't flawless. Delgado dropped him with a massive right hand in the opening round and appeared to be cruising toward a major upset. However, Silva turned up the pressure over the next two rounds, eventually dropping Delgado and forcing him to tap with a slick one-arm rear-naked choke at 2:57 of the third round.
Immediately after securing his second consecutive victory, Silva climbed out of the Octagon and walked directly over to UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell to plead his case for the next featherweight title shot.
"Who Else? I'm Next"
Silva doubled down during the Noche UFC 4 post-fight press conference.
"Who else?" Silva said. "I'm next, and I will be champion."
Former UFC bantamweight champion-turned-featherweight contender Aljamain Sterling quickly chimed in and shot his shot on social media.
"I'm next in line," Sterling wrote. "Or we can fight for it. December. Run it."
The Case for Each
Sterling has a strong argument based strictly on his featherweight resume. "Funkmaster" is 3-1 since moving up to 145 pounds, earning decision victories over Calvin Kattar, Brian Ortega and Youssef Zalal. His only loss came against undefeated No. 1 contender Movsar Evloev in an extremely competitive fight.
Silva, meanwhile, has won seven of his eight UFC appearances, with notable victories over Bryce Mitchell, Arnold Allen and now Delgado. His lone Octagon loss came against Diego Lopes in one of the most violent fights of 2025.
Sterling probably owns the better overall resume and carries the credibility of a former champion. Silva, however, is unquestionably the more popular and exciting fighter. He produces memorable moments, hunts for finishes, and attracts attention every time he competes.
What's Next?
Current featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is already scheduled to defend his title against Evloev at UFC 333 on Oct. 24, meaning the division's next title challenger likely will not compete for gold until 2027.
That gives UFC several options. It could reward Sterling for his superior resume, capitalize on Silva's momentum and popularity, or accept "Funk Master's" offer and book the two contenders in a title eliminator this December.
If UFC wants merit, Sterling probably deserves the shot. If it wants fireworks, Silva is the easy choice. If it wants to eliminate any doubt, make them fight.
