Natalia Silva has won the vacant UFC women’s flyweight title after beating Wang Cong by unanimous decision in the UFC 332 main event in Salt Lake City.
The Brazilian prevailed after five rounds at the Delta Center, with the three judges returning scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. The result extended Silva’s winning run to 15 fights and gave the 29-year-old her ninth victory in nine UFC appearances.
Silva had originally been scheduled to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the belt, according to the BBC, but Shevchenko vacated the championship last month because of injury. The Silva-Wang contest was then made for the vacant title, and Silva made the most of the opportunity against the Chinese challenger.
Silva’s early work proved decisive
Silva’s movement, speed and varied kicking were important through the opening stages. MMA Fighting reported that her speed caused Wang problems early, while LowKick MMA reported that Silva also used clinch exchanges and wrestling to break up the challenger’s rhythm.
The clearest single moment came in the second round, when Silva landed a head kick that sent Wang to the canvas. LowKick MMA reported that Silva subsequently held advantages of 109-98 in significant strikes and three takedowns, although Wang led the total-strike count by 147-133.
LowKick MMA reported that Silva mixed left hooks with body and head kicks before Wang found more success with forward pressure in the closing rounds. It said Wang landed shots in a tense fifth round, but assessed that Silva had built enough of an advantage across the first four frames.
Those numbers reflected a contest which became more competitive as it progressed. Wang increased her forward pressure in the later rounds, landing shots and body kicks as she tried to close the gap. MMA Fighting said Wang was pursuing a finish in the final round, but Silva stayed sufficiently elusive to see out the decision.
The tightest scorecards underlined that Wang’s late work remained relevant, but Silva’s earlier control and the second-round knockdown gave her a strong basis for victory. The fight went the full five rounds.
New champion says she wants regular defences
At the post-fight news conference, Silva said she had worked hard for the opportunity and described becoming champion as an extraordinary moment. She said preparation with training partners Wagner Reis and Brian Monstrinho had helped her anticipate Wang’s movement and made the title fight feel familiar.
Silva also said she wanted an active reign. Rather than naming an opponent immediately after UFC 332, she said that holding a title without defending it had little value and that she intended to put the belt on the line as often as possible.
Her record now stands at 21 wins, five defeats and one draw, according to LowKick MMA. She has won 15 straight fights and is 9-0 in the UFC.
For Wang, the defeat ended her chance to capture the title. She recovered from the head kick and made the closing rounds uncomfortable, but the scorecards showed that the recovery did not overturn Silva’s advantage over the full contest.
Shevchenko remains part of the title picture
Shevchenko responded publicly after the fight by congratulating Silva and indicating that she intended to return for the championship. The BBC reported that Shevchenko had been forced to vacate because of injury, while LowKick MMA said she was expected to be sidelined for around a year.
No next opponent for Silva was announced at UFC 332. Shevchenko’s post-fight message indicated that she intends to return for the belt, although no fight has been announced.
Silva’s win has nonetheless settled the vacant-title question. She now holds the belt on the strength of a measured five-round performance: a faster start, a pivotal head kick and enough composure to withstand Wang’s late rally.