Natalia Silva Claims Vacant UFC Flyweight Title at UFC 332
Silva defeated Wang Cong by unanimous decision, extending her winning streak to 15 bouts.
Natalia Silva claimed the vacant UFC women's flyweight championship on Saturday night at UFC 332, unanimously outpointing Wang Cong. The victory extended Silva's impressive winning streak to 15 bouts.
Silva, now 21-5-1, largely dominated the five-round bout against Wang (10-2). The title became vacant nearly a month ago when Valentina Shevchenko relinquished it due to back and shoulder injuries. Silva proved to be the more aggressive fighter from the outset, utilizing her speed, fluid movement, and powerful leg strikes to gain an advantage.
Midway through the second round, Silva landed a sharp head kick that sent Wang to the canvas. She maintained control through the subsequent rounds with her quick striking and consistent roundhouse kicks. Despite a late push from Wang in the final round, Silva landed enough blows to secure the win, with judges scoring the fight 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46.
"I think if she had stepped on the gas a little earlier, it would have been a completely different fight," UFC President Dana White commented on the bout.
In the bantamweight co-main event, Payton Talbott defeated Delveson Figueiredo via TKO with 2:51 remaining in the first round. Talbott (12-1) controlled the fight from the start, scoring an early knockdown with a right-handed strike and following up with an elbow along the fence that staggered Figueiredo. Talbott pressed his advantage, forcing a TKO stoppage. It marked a successful return for Talbott, who had not fought in 10 months.
"Definitely thought he was going to be more durable," Talbott said after the fight, expressing a desire for a longer contest to "feel that war."
On the main card, Roman Kopylov defeated Ateba Gautier by TKO with 3:12 left in the first round of their middleweight bout. Kopylov landed several clean strikes, finishing the fight with a left-handed blow. This victory marked Kopylov's second UFC win of the year.
UFC newcomer Roberto Soldic made his debut with a unanimous decision win over Khaos Williams in a welterweight bout, with judges scoring 29-28, 29-27, and 29-27. Soldic controlled the fight throughout its three rounds, using timely strikes and clinching on the canvas.
Esteban Ribovics earned a TKO victory over King Green with 52 seconds remaining in the first round of their lightweight bout. Ribovics dropped Green three times with well-timed strikes, overwhelming him after the third knockdown.
The event drew a gate of $2.7 million with an attendance of 16,492 fans, according to White.