Natália Silva claimed the vacant UFC women’s flyweight championship by unanimous decision over Wang Cong at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The 29-year-old Brazilian extended her winning streak to 15 bouts at the Delta Center during a card featuring a record-breaking 11 finishes.
Natalia Silva Claims Vacant Flyweight Crown Over Wang Cong at UFC 332
The main event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City delivered a new champion to the 125-pound division. Natália Silva captured the vacant title with a unanimous decision victory over China’s Wang Cong, with judges scoring the 25-minute contest 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in the Brazilian’s favor.
Silva entered the matchup as the betting favorite. She relied on her trademark speed, movement, and kicking game to frustrate her opponent through the early rounds.
While Wang found success in the championship rounds and landed her best strikes in the final moments of the fifth, Silva’s early lead secured the decision.
“I want to tell this to everyone… don’t give up on anything. This belt here is because God gave me the opportunity. I knew [Wang] was a tough fighter. This fight proved why she was challenging me. This is the beginning of Natalia Silva. I’m the new queen.”
Natalia Silva, UFC flyweight champion
The title had been declared vacant after Valentina Shevchenko abdicated her throne the previous month to recover from back and shoulder injuries. Silva’s victory makes her just the fourth undisputed women’s flyweight champion in the history of the division, which was introduced in 2017. The win moves Silva to 9-0 inside the Octagon and 21-5-1 overall, extending her active win streak across all promotions to 15 fights.
The Brazilian established an early advantage that kept her rival off balance across the opening pair of frames and established a comfortable cushion before the latter phase of the contest. The Brazilian had been set to face Valentina Shevchenko for the title before their bout was cancelled. The official scorecard totals read 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in favor of Silva.
The slow-paced nature of the bout naturally irritated spectators.
Silva stayed composed, constantly circling and landing shots before briefly dropping her opponent with a head kick. Wang became more competitive as the fight progressed. Silva’s pace dropped while Cong began to find her timing, specifically from round three onward. Still, Silva’s strong start proved to be enough.
Record-Breaking Knockouts and Performance Bonuses at the Delta Center
The event set a modern promotion record with 11 total finishes and nine first-round knockouts, surpassing the previous high-water mark of seven opening-frame knockouts. Out of 14 total fights, the event produced 11 knockouts, with nine of those coming in the first round alongside 16 total knockdowns.
In the co-main event, bantamweight Payton Talbott stopped former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in Round 1. Talbott subsequently called out Sean O’Malley for his next assignment. Meanwhile, heavyweight Johnny Walker debuted in his division with a swift knockout over Mick Parkin, needing less than four minutes to finish the bout.
The promotion awarded four Performance of the Night bonuses worth $100,000 each, alongside $25,000 finish bonuses for remaining fighters who ended their bouts early.
| Bonus Category | Recipients | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of the Night | Roman Kopylov, Imanol Rodriguez, Damian Pinas, Johnny Walker | $100,000 each |
| Finish Bonus | Eric Nolan, Alexander Hernandez, Jacobe Smith, Anthony Wint, Marcus McGhee, Payton Talbott | $25,000 each |
Valentina Shevchenko Issues Warning to the New Champion
Valentina Shevchenko wasted no time reacting to the coronation of the new titleholder. Following the conclusion of the event, Shevchenko issued a public congratulations on social media while laying down an immediate challenge for the belt.
“Well deserved Natalia! Congratulations. It’s my pleasure to know that UFC Champion’s belt is now holding deserving martial artist – such as you are. But don’t get too comfortable – keep it warm, I’m coming soon for my belt.”
Valentina Shevchenko, former UFC flyweight champion
When will Valentina Shevchenko be medically cleared to compete and challenge Natália Silva?
