Natalia Silva Beats Wang Cong to Win Vacant UFC Flyweight Title
Natalia Silva is the new UFC women’s flyweight champion after beating Wang Cong by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 332 on Saturday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
The judges scored the five-round contest 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 in favour of the 29-year-old Brazilian, who claimed the vacant 125-pound belt and extended her unbeaten run inside the octagon to nine fights. Her overall winning streak now stands at 15, stretching back to December 2017.
How Natalia Silva won the title
Silva was the sharper fighter through the first half of the main event, using footwork, movement and an edge in speed to outwork Wang and land clean strikes. Her biggest moment came in the second round, when she dropped the Chinese challenger with a head kick.
Wang, 34, raised her output and was competitive over the closing two rounds, but it was not enough to swing the scorecards. Silva mixed in her grappling late on, securing takedowns to protect her lead as Wang swung for a finish in the fifth.
The title had been vacant since longtime champion Valentina Shevchenko relinquished it in September because of lingering shoulder and back injuries expected to sideline her for at least a year. Silva had been lined up to challenge Shevchenko before the injury; Wang, ranked sixth, stepped in as the replacement challenger.
Shevchenko sends a warning
Shevchenko was quick to congratulate the new champion and put her on notice in the same message. Writing on X after the fight, she said: “Well deserved Natalia! Congratulations! It’s my pleasure to know that the UFC champion’s belt is now held by a deserving martial artist, such as you are. But don’t get too comfortable. Keep it warm, I’m coming soon for my belt.”
Silva, who entered the bout as the division’s top-ranked contender, had already beaten three former UFC champions on her climb to the title shot: Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas. In her post-fight interview she said the belt was the start of her reign: “This belt here is because God gave me the opportunity. I knew [Wang] was a tough fighter. This is the beginning of Natalia Silva. I’m the new queen.”
A record-setting night at UFC 332
The card made history for its violence. UFC 332 set new records for the most knockouts on a single card with 11, the most first-round knockouts with nine, and the most consecutive knockouts with eight. In the co-main event, rising bantamweight contender Payton Talbott stopped former two-time men’s flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo by first-round TKO in just over two minutes.
It was also the first time two women headlined one of the UFC’s flagship numbered events since June 2023, when Amanda Nunes defended her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana.
What happens next
The promotion has indicated that former champion Alexa Grasso, who beat Manon Fiorot at Noche UFC in September, will be next in line for the winner. A rematch with Shevchenko also looms once the former champion recovers, setting up one of the most anticipated fights in the division’s history.
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Frequently asked questions
Who won the UFC women’s flyweight title at UFC 332?
Natalia Silva beat Wang Cong by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on October 3, 2026, to win the vacant women’s flyweight title.
Why was the UFC flyweight title vacant?
Valentina Shevchenko relinquished the belt in September 2026 because of lingering shoulder and back injuries that are expected to keep her out for at least a year.
What is Natalia Silva’s record?
Silva is 21-5-1 overall in MMA and 9-0 in the UFC, riding a 15-fight winning streak. She has not lost a bout since December 2017.
Who will Natalia Silva fight next?
The UFC has indicated former champion Alexa Grasso will be next for the winner, while a rematch with Valentina Shevchenko is expected once she recovers from injury.
