Kevin Vallejos sees UFC title shot opening up with Noche UFC shakeup

Kevin Vallejos believes he is positioned for a UFC featherweight title shot with one more victory following a significant change to the Noche UFC 4 main event.

Jean Silva was originally scheduled to headline the September 12 card against top-ranked former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. That matchup appeared to be an unofficial title eliminator, with both combatants riding recent wins. However, Rodriguez withdrew for undisclosed reasons and has been replaced by Jose Delgado, a 4-0 UFC prospect.

Delgado's inexperience significantly diminishes the caliber of Silva's next opponent compared to facing Rodriguez. This shift has caught Vallejos's attention, as he has been calling for a rematch with Silva since his lone UFC loss to the Brazilian came on Dana White's Contender Series in 2023. Silva rebounded from that setback with a unanimous decision win over Arnold Allen in January.

Vallejos, an Argentine fighter competing at featherweight, has built an impressive record since earning his UFC contract on DWCS in 2024. He has posted four consecutive victories, including three finishes, and most recently earned performance bonuses for knockout wins over Giga Chikadze and Josh Emmett. "El Chino" posted on social media: "It looks like we get the title shot if we win next," signaling his expectation that another victory would position him for a featherweight title opportunity—and a chance to avenge his loss to Silva.