Flyweight champion Natalia Silva plans active UFC title reign

Silva defeated Wang Cong for the vacant title at UFC 332.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 36m1 min read

What happened: Natalia Silva has no intention of waiting for former champion Valentina Shevchenko to return from injury for her first title defense. Silva echoed UFC CEO Dana White's preference for active champions, stating she wants to stay busy rather than sit out for a specific opponent.

Why it matters: Shevchenko was forced to vacate the belt in September due to ligament injuries. By refusing to pause her schedule, Silva keeps the 125-pound division moving and opens the door for other contenders to challenge sooner.

By the numbers: The Brazilian improved to 21-5-1 following her unanimous decision victory in the UFC 332 main event at the Delta Center.

What to watch: The promotion will look to book the new champion's first title defense while Shevchenko continues her recovery timeline.

Sources

Yahoo Sports 2026-10-04T15:28:32.730987+00:00

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