The third installment of Noche UFC has taken a hit just over a month out.
After staging two editions of Noche UFC — an event created to celebrate Mexican Independence Day — in Las Vegas, the promotion finally announced it was actually taking the show to Mexico itself for 2025. But those plans for September 13 fell through owing to construction delays with the venue in Guadalajara.
Instead, the card was downgraded from a pay-per-view to a UFC Fight Night and moved to Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Unlike last year’s event at the Sphere and the inaugural 2023 Noche UFC at T-Mobile Arena, no titles will be on the line.
Many have also taken issue with the small number of Mexican fighters booked for the occasion, and the already limited pool has just lost one of its name.
- LATEST UFC NEWS: UFC slammed by fans for ‘criminal’ UFC 319 card placement that has 5-time headliner on the early prelims
Edgar Chairez out of Noche UFC after suffering broken leg
Among the most recognizable Mexican names in the UFC is Edgar Chairez, an always entertaining flyweight who has put on wars with the likes of Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira since debuting in the Octagon two years ago.
‘Puro Chicali’ fought at Noche UFC in both 2023 and 2024, and he was scheduled to appear once again in a showdown with Alessandro Costa. But Chairez recently took to his Instagram Stories to announce his withdrawal due to a broken leg.
“Before the gossipmongers and those who don’t know a thing tell you, I’m going to let you know that I won’t be fighting at Noche,” Chairez said in Spanish (translation via MMA Junkie).
“Unfortunately, it’s impossible for me to compete since I broke my leg. Well, first it was my neck. They discharged me and I was already getting back into my rhythm, and now my foot. Well, I’ve been wanting to try everything for 10 days now.
“I was competitive like that, but no, I can’t even walk,” Chairez continued. “I have to be out for about a month without putting any weight on my leg, and then they’ll start training. But since I’m back in shape, I’ll continue dieting, etc.
“I want to move my fight to mid-October for a month more, so I’ll be ready. Oh, we’ll see if it’s with the same opponent or another.”
- LATEST UFC NEWS: Tom Aspinall told it will be ’embarrassing’ if he loses at UFC 321 after he made risky pre-fight promise
Noche UFC has just four fighters from Mexico after Edgar Chairez’s withdrawal
With Chairez’s injury, Mexican representation at the UFC’s celebration of Mexican Independence Day has taken a hit.
The card was already coming under fire for having a low number of Mexican fighters competing, and the withdrawal of ‘Puro Chicali’ has downgraded that figure to four.
After David Martinez opens the card in a bantamweight clash with Carlos Vera, women’s 135-pounder Montserrat Rendon, flyweight Jesus Aguilar, and lightweight Rafa Garcia will be in action at Frost Bank Center.
The main event does, however, contain a fan favorite in Mexico, as Diego Lopes returns after losing to Alexander Volkanovski. He’ll be looking to immediately reignite his title ambitions by becoming the first to beat Jean Silva in the UFC. While born and raised in Brazil, Lopes resides and trains in Mexico.