Natalia Silva crowned women’s flyweight champion at UFC 332 as Valentina Shevchenko issues warning
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Natalia Silva was crowned the new UFC women’s flyweight champion as she overcame Wang Cong by unanimous decision to claim the vacant title on Saturday.
Originally slated to square off against Valentina Shevchenko before the Kyrgyzstani vacated her championship due to injury problems, Silva notched her 15th win in a row over China’s Wang in a dominant five-round display, leading the scorecards 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46.
“I want to tell this to everyone… don’t give up on anything,” Silva said in her post-fight interview in Salt Lake City.
“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.”
Shevchenko later congratulated Silva on social media and warned her not to get “too comfortable”.
In the co-main event, Payton Talbott followed up his decision win over Henry Cejudo last year by defeating another former champion, knocking out ex-flyweight king Deiveson Figueiredo to continue his rise at bantamweight.
That was one of a stunning nine first-round KOs on what was initially deemed to be an underwhelming card by the UFC.
Ateba Gautier succumbed to a big upset in his first UFC loss at the hands of Roman Kopylov, with the 24-year-old Cameroonian – who trains at Manchester Top Team – slept by the Russian in a brutal opening-round finish.
King Green, 40, was meanwhile frustrated by what he deemed an early stoppage against Esteban Ribovics, admitting he was a “little mad” at referee Herb Dean: “Let me go out on my shield.”
Elsewhere on the main card, highly-rated welterweight Roberto Soldic won his debut in the company by beating Khaos Williams on the scorecards, while the early prelims were stacked with name value.
Britain’s Mick Parkin was knocked out by a stunning knee by Brazil’s Johnny Walker, while former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos seemed to indicate he was retiring aged 41 as he laid his gloves to the mat following his second-round knockout loss to Alexander Hernandez.
Former middleweight title contender Marvin Vettori was also in action, losing to Ismail Naurdiev by unanimous decision.
