Points to watch out
Brazil finally has a new UFC women’s flyweight champion.
Natalia Silva delivered the biggest victory of her career at UFC 332, defeating China’s Wang Cong by unanimous decision to claim the vacant women’s flyweight championship in Salt Lake City. The judges scored the five-round contest 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 in Silva’s favour.
It was not the kind of fight that ended with a spectacular knockout, but Silva’s speed, movement and ability to control the distance proved enough to get her hand raised after 25 minutes.
More importantly, the win confirmed what many people around the division had already started to believe: Silva is no longer simply a rising contender. She is now the woman sitting on top of the UFC’s 125-pound division.
Silva completes her long climb to UFC gold
Silva entered UFC 332 with an impressive 14-fight winning streak and an unbeaten run inside the UFC. She had already built a strong résumé, including victories over former champions Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas.
The title opportunity came after Valentina Shevchenko was forced to vacate the championship because of injury. That left the division without a champion and created an opportunity for Silva and Wang to fight for the undisputed belt.
Silva made sure she did not waste it.
The Brazilian used her footwork and striking variety throughout the contest, repeatedly making Wang work to find the correct distance. Silva’s low kicks and movement were particularly important as she looked to disrupt the Chinese fighter’s rhythm.
According to fight statistics reported after the contest, Silva landed 133 total strikes and 109 significant strikes, while also recording three takedowns and more than four minutes of control time. Wang actually landed more total strikes, but Silva’s overall work was enough to convince all three judges.
That is an important part of the story.
Silva did not simply survive five rounds. She showed the kind of adaptability expected from a champion.
Wang Cong refuses to go quietly
Wang Cong deserves credit for making the championship fight competitive.
The Chinese fighter came into the contest with a four-fight winning streak and a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous strikers. Her background in Sanda and kickboxing made her a difficult stylistic matchup for Silva.
Silva was able to control much of the fight early, but Wang continued to push forward as the championship rounds arrived.
That late pressure created some tense moments.
Wang tried to turn the momentum around with increased aggression, but Silva’s earlier work had already put her in a strong position on the scorecards. By the final bell, the judges were unanimous.
The result also ended Wang’s four-fight winning streak and moved her back into the contender pack at 125 pounds.
The Shevchenko storyline is already beginning
Perhaps the most interesting part of Silva’s championship victory is what could happen next.
Valentina Shevchenko did not take long to react to the result.
The former champion congratulated Silva on social media but also made it clear that she wants her belt back when she returns.
Shevchenko’s message was respectful, but the warning was obvious: enjoy being champion, because the former queen is coming.
That instantly gives the UFC women’s flyweight division a natural storyline.
Silva is unbeaten in nine UFC appearances and now owns the championship. Shevchenko, meanwhile, has established herself as one of the greatest fighters in women’s MMA history and has previously dominated the division across two title reigns.
If Shevchenko returns healthy, a Silva-Shevchenko title fight could become one of the biggest women’s UFC fights available.
But Silva has earned the right to enjoy this moment first.
A historic night for the UFC
UFC 332 was significant beyond the championship result.
The event marked the UFC’s first numbered event whose main card aired on CBS, adding another milestone to the promotion’s broadcast history.
The card also produced an extraordinary number of finishes.
CBS Sports reported that 11 of the 15 fights ended inside the distance, while ESPN reported nine first-round knockouts and 11 total finishes, making it one of the most explosive UFC cards in recent memory.
Yet the main event went in the opposite direction.
While fighters across the card were being stopped early, Silva and Wang went the full 25 minutes to decide who would leave Salt Lake City with the championship.
That contrast made Silva’s performance even more impressive. She did not need one huge moment. She needed consistency, composure and five rounds of disciplined fighting.
She delivered all three.
Johnny Walker stops Mick Parkin in brutal fashion
Earlier on the card, Britain’s Mick Parkin suffered a devastating defeat against Johnny Walker.
Walker, competing at heavyweight, finished Parkin with a knee in the first round. The stoppage came less than four minutes into the fight and was one of several explosive finishes on the UFC 332 card.
Parkin had hoped to make an impression against the experienced Brazilian, but Walker’s power proved decisive.
The result added another knockout to a card already packed with them and showed just how quickly fortunes can change inside the Octagon.
What comes next for Natalia Silva?
The biggest question now is who Silva will face in her first title defence.
A rematch with Wang is possible, but the bigger commercial and sporting storyline is clearly Valentina Shevchenko.
Shevchenko has already publicly indicated that she wants another opportunity at the championship. Silva, however, has now earned the position where everyone else has to chase her.
That changes the pressure.
Before UFC 332, Silva was trying to prove she belonged among the elite. Now she has to prove she can stay there.
At only 29, Silva has potentially entered the most important chapter of her career. Her 15-fight winning streak, unbeaten UFC record and championship victory give her a strong foundation, but title defences are where champions truly establish their legacy.
For now, though, there is no need to look too far ahead.
Natalia Silva is the UFC women’s flyweight champion.
And after years of climbing toward the top, she finally has the belt.
“This is the beginning of Natalia Silva,” the new champion said after her victory. “I’m the new queen.”
It is difficult to argue with her.
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