Silva Defeats Wang Cong by Unanimous Decision
Natalia Silva is the new UFC women’s flyweight champion. In the main event of UFC 332, Silva defeated Wang Cong by unanimous decision. The fight took place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The scorecards read 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, all in favour of Silva. This is only the second time in the division’s history that someone other than Valentina Shevchenko holds the title.
How the Fight Unfolded
Silva seemed a step ahead of Cong throughout the matchup. She clearly won most of the rounds. Her biggest moment came in the second round when she dropped Cong with a head kick. Cong fought back and made the third and fourth rounds more competitive. However, it was not enough to turn the fight in her favour. The fight was slower and more methodical than some fans expected. Many in attendance booed the main event, as they felt it did not deliver the excitement they wanted. But Silva was not bothered by the reaction. She stayed focused and got the win.
Background on Both Fighters
Natalia Silva, 29, is from Brazil. She has now won 15 fights in a row. On her way to this title opportunity, she defeated three former champions: Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso, and Rose Namajunas. Cong, 34, is from China. Before this fight, she had a four-fight winning streak. That streak is now over. Her other UFC loss came in November 2024 when she was upset by Gabriella Fernandes via submission.
Why the Title Was Vacant
The women’s flyweight title was vacant because Valentina Shevchenko gave it up due to injury. The UFC had tried to book Shevchenko against Silva, but Shevchenko’s injury made that impossible. Wang Cong, the highest-ranked contender who was not already booked, stepped in to face Silva for the vacant belt. Shevchenko’s timeline for a return is still unclear. The promotion has said that Alexa Grasso will be next for the winner of Saturday’s main event. Grasso is a former champion and defeated Manon Fiorot at Noche UFC in September.
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Other Key Results from UFC 332
The rest of the card delivered plenty of action and finishes. In the co-main event, Payton Talbott defeated Deiveson Figueiredo by TKO in the first round at 2:09. Esteban Ribovics stopped King Green by TKO in the first round at 4:08. Roberto Soldic beat Khaos Williams by unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 29-27, and 29-27.
Roman Kopylov defeated Ateba Gautier by TKO in the first round at 3:12. Imanol Rodriguez won against Alden Coria by TKO due to a body kick in the first round at 3:11. Damian Pinas knocked out Andrey Pulyaev in the first round at 1:15. Marcus McGhee defeated Anthony Romero by TKO in the first round at 4:58. Anthony Wint made quick work of Lucas Armand, winning by TKO in just 23 seconds of the first round.
Johnny Walker knocked out Mick Parkin with a knee in the first round at 3:35. Jacobe Smith knocked out Bruce Whitehead in the first round at 1:32.
Alexander Hernandez defeated Rafael dos Anjos by TKO in the second round at 3:12. Ismail Naurdiev won a unanimous decision against Marvin Vettori with scores of 29-28 across the board. Eric Nolan defeated Court McGee by TKO in the third round at 3:26.
What This Means for the Division
Her win opens a new chapter in the women’s flyweight division. She has been on a long winning streak and has now beaten several top names. Her next challenger is expected to be Alexa Grasso. That fight would be a major test for Silva. Grasso is a former champion and is coming off a win over Manon Fiorot. The fans may not have loved the main event, but Natalia Silva got the job done. She is now the new face of the UFC women’s flyweight division.