While Delgado may not yet carry the same resume as Rodriguez, the 28-year-old Dana White’s Contender Series veteran brings local pride to the Octagon. An Arizona native born and raised in Yuma, he now trains roughly three hours northeast in Glendale with the elite roster at The MMA Lab.
Silva Represents a Significant Step Up in Competition
This matchup marks a considerable jump in class for Delgado, who has not faced an opponent of Silva’s caliber during his UFC tenure. Nevertheless, Delgado did not hesitate when the offer arrived, having pictured himself sharing the cage with the Brazilian bruiser since joining the promotion in the summer of 2024.
Silva Respects the Gamble, Warns of Prepared Strategy
“Props to him because he’s a badass for taking this fight on four weeks’ notice,” Silva said. “If you think about what I bring to the table, what I’ve done, my history —that’s something. He might be confusing an opportunity with being there just by chance, but I can tell you, the strategy is set, it’s very fitting to what he brings to the table, and it’s gonna be a good one.”
Brazilian Claims Intimate Knowledge of Opponent’s Life
“I have everything,” Silva said with a smirk when asked what he’s seen from Delgado. “I have his social security number, his IDs; I know where he sleeps, I know where he lives, I know where he trains, I know who is in his corner. I know if he smoked a joint yesterday or not. I know everything. Believe me, I know everything about the guy.”
