Natalia Silva is the new UFC women’s flyweight champion, and by the time she reached the post-fight podium in Salt Lake City she’d already decided she won’t sit by the phone waiting on Valentina Shevchenko.
Silva beat Wang Cong by unanimous decision in the UFC 332 main event at Delta Center, taking the vacant 125-pound title on scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46, according to Championship Rounds. Silva came in as the division’s top-ranked contender. Wang was ranked No. 6.
Those cards say the fight was closer than the ranking gap. Two judges gave Wang a pair of rounds, and the third gave her one. Silva still did enough to leave with the belt.
The headline from the night came after the fight. In a clip MMA Junkie posted on X, Silva said she plans to take Dana White’s advice and keep moving rather than wait for Shevchenko.
“I want to be an active champion. It’s time for people to see who I am.”
Shevchenko, for her part, didn’t let the moment pass. MMA Junkie also posted video of her sending a message to Silva shortly after the decision was read. The two names at the top of the flyweight division are now talking at each other, and that’s usually how a big fight starts.
Silva had support in high places before the cage door even closed. Merab Dvalishvili wrote on X during fight night, “It’s going to be a great fight between these two ladies, but I’m cheering for Natalia Silva,” and UFC Brasil was celebrating a new Brazilian champion by the next morning, pointing fans to the replay on Paramount+ in Brazil.
The press conference
The post-fight press conference followed the 14-bout card, which marked the UFC’s fifth visit to Salt Lake City. MMA Weekly and Yahoo Sports both carried the stream and replay, with the night’s winners taking questions from the media.
White had his own media availability, too. According to a UFC.com.br headline, he spoke about UFC 332, how he picks bonus winners, Roberto Soldić and the promotion’s success with Paramount. The sources available so far don’t detail what he said on any of those topics, so treat anything you see floating around about bonus amounts or Soldić’s next booking as unconfirmed until there’s tape.
Silva’s answer is the correct one, and it’s refreshing to hear a brand-new champion say it out loud on night one. Belts that sit on a shelf waiting for one specific name turn into problems for a division, and this flyweight title was vacant until Saturday. If Shevchenko is ready, great. If she isn’t, Silva just told everyone she’ll fight whoever the matchmakers put in front of her, and the phone call that matters now goes to White.
