Shevchenko Vacates Flyweight Title, Silva and Wang Cong Fight for Gold at UFC 332
The UFC women’s flyweight division has a new chapter ahead of it.
Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko is officially no longer the UFC women’s flyweight champion after an injury is expected to keep her out of action for at least a year. With the longtime champion unable to defend her belt, the UFC has elected to move forward with a championship fight rather than wait for her return.
On October 3 at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, No. 1 contender Natalia Silva will face No. 8-ranked Wang Cong for the vacant UFC women’s flyweight championship. The matchup was officially announced during the UFC Paris broadcast.
For Silva, the opportunity is the culmination of one of the most impressive runs in the division.
The Brazilian enters the biggest fight of her career riding a 14-fight winning streak and an unbeaten 8-0 run inside the UFC. Even more impressive, three of Silva’s most recent victories have come against former UFC champions, as she defeated Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas.
Silva was already positioned as the division’s top contender, making her inclusion in the vacant title fight an obvious choice. Now she has the opportunity to turn an impressive résumé into UFC gold.
Standing opposite her will be one of the division’s most dangerous strikers.
Wang Cong has won four consecutive fights inside the UFC and enters the championship bout at 10-1 overall. The No. 8-ranked contender most recently defeated Tracy Cortez at UFC 329 and has rapidly established herself as one of the division’s most intriguing threats.
There is also an interesting piece of history between Wang and Shevchenko.
Before Wang entered the UFC, the two met in a kickboxing bout in 2015, with Wang scoring a decision victory. If Wang captures the UFC championship, that history could eventually set the stage for a highly anticipated rematch when Shevchenko returns.
For now, however, the division belongs to whoever wins in Salt Lake City.
Silva represents the established contender finally getting her opportunity, while Wang has the chance to crash the championship picture and become one of the UFC’s newest champions.
And whenever Shevchenko is healthy enough to return, the landscape at 125 pounds could look very different.
The former champion is expected to have a path back to the title once she is cleared, but first the UFC will crown a new queen.
Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong.
No interim belt.
No asterisk.
The winner leaves UFC 332 as the undisputed UFC women’s flyweight champion.
UFC 332 — Currently Announced Card
Main Card
Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong — Vacant UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Payton Talbott — Bantamweight
King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics — Lightweight
Khaos Williams vs. Roberto Soldic — Welterweight
Ateba Gautier vs. Roman Kopylov — Middleweight
Preliminary Card
Imanol Rodriguez vs. Alden Coria – flyweight
Damian Pinas vs. Andrey Pulyaev – middleweight
Marcus McGhee vs. Bernardo Sopaj — Bantamweight
Johnny Walker vs. Mick Parkin — Heavyweight
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Alexander Hernandez — Lightweight
Marvin Vettori vs. Ismail Naurdiev — Middleweight
Court McGee vs. Eric Nolan — Welterweight
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