Lopes knocks out Silva with spinning back elbow at Noche UFC 3

Diego Lopes delivered a statement win Saturday night, knocking out Jean Silva with a spinning elbow to end the second-round of their featherweight main event at Noche UFC 3 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The finish halted Silva's 13-fight win streak and capped a sold-out card celebrating Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Lopes, a former title challenger who lost a unanimous decision to Alexander Volkanovski in April, seized control early with a takedown and heavy ground-and-pound in the first round. Silva rallied in the second, landing hard combinations and appearing to stun Lopes, but with seconds remaining Lopes countered a forward-moving Silva with a perfectly timed spinning back elbow that dropped him. Lopes followed with ground strikes until the referee waved off the fight at 4:48 of round two. Multiple reports identified Mike Beltran as the referee; a few named Dan Miragliotta, and officials declined immediate clarification.

The atmosphere in San Antonio was electric as 18,005 fans watched the all-Brazilian headliner, part of a card that promoters billed as a celebration of Mexican fighters and their adopted stars. Promotional officials said the event generated a...