Jean Silva steals the show in sugar skull face paint at Noche UFC weigh-ins

Jean Silva upstaged the Mexican Independence Day spirit at the Noche UFC ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday, arriving in sugar skull face paint to face off against Jose Miguel Delgado — the fighter who actually carries Mexican heritage — ahead of their main event clash at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

The Brazilian featherweight did not stop at the theatrics. Speaking through a translator, Silva took direct aim at Delgado’s roots, insisting it was he, not his opponent, who would honour Mexico on fight night. “Let me tell you something, Jose Delgado was not born in Mexico; he’s not Mexican,” Silva said. “But I represent you, and you live in my heart. I’ll represent you well tomorrow.”

The faceoff set a combative tone for the fourth instalment of Noche UFC, the promotion’s annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day, with Silva barking at Delgado before the two were separated.

Elsewhere on the card, the co-main event features a flyweight bout between former champion Brandon Moreno and rising contender Joseph Morales, whose final faceoff passed without incident.

The evening’s feature bout produced its own drama, however. Featherweights Tommy McMillen and Marwan Rahiki, who have traded verbal barbs throughout fight week, nearly came to blows at their final faceoff. McMillen shoved Rahiki and attempted to slap him before security intervened. As he was being pulled away, McMillen threw an object toward his opponent before turning to play to the crowd.

The early prelims get under way at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, with the main card following at 5 p.m. ET.