Natalia Silva outpoints Wang Cong to become new flyweight queen. Natalia Silva is the new UFC women’s flyweight champion after outpointing Wang Cong across five rounds in the UFC 332 main event.
Salt Lake City was set for another major night of UFC action as Natalia Silva and Wang Cong collide for the vacant women’s flyweight championship at UFC 332. The action goes down at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with a new champion guaranteed to leave the Octagon with the 125-pound crown.
Natalia Silva enters the title fight on a remarkable 14-fight winning streak. The Brazilian has not lost since December 2017 and is unbeaten in all eight of her UFC appearances. Her last three victories have come against former UFC champions, making her recent run particularly notable. Silva’s most recent outing comes against Rose Namajunas at UFC 324 in January 2026, where she earns a unanimous decision after three rounds. Before that, she defeats Alexa Grasso by unanimous decision at UFC 315 in May 2025, following another unanimous decision victory over Jéssica Andrade in September 2024.
Wang Cong, meanwhile, has built her own impressive momentum. The Chinese contender rides a four-fight winning streak into UFC 332 after bouncing back from the only loss of her professional career. Her latest victory comes over Tracy Cortez at UFC 329 in July 2026, where Wang earns a unanimous decision after three rounds. Before that, she defeats Eduarda Moura by unanimous decision in February 2026 and Ariane Lipski da Silva by unanimous decision in June 2025. She also starts her 2025 campaign with a unanimous decision win over Bruna Brasil.
Silva immediately uses her speed and movement to make Wang uncomfortable. She constantly feints and darts in and out of range, finding success with hooks and counters whenever Wang steps forward. Wang remains patient and looks for opportunities to establish her own striking rhythm, but Silva controls most of the exchanges. After Wang slips to the canvas, Silva briefly looks to capitalize before pushing her against the fence. Silva lands an elbow during the clinch before the fighters separate and return to the center. Wang connects with a late shot, but Silva’s activity and accuracy give her the opening round.
Silva continues to mix up her attacks, incorporating more kicks into her striking. Wang lands an outside leg kick, but Silva soon produces the biggest moment of the fight. A lightning-fast head kick drops Wang, although the Chinese contender quickly gets back to her feet. Silva then takes the fight to the ground and lands ground-and-pound while Wang works to recover her position. Wang eventually stands, but Silva remains in control and continues to frustrate Wang.
Silva keeps the pressure with kicks and movement while Wang tries to close the distance. Silva catches one of Wang’s kicks but cannot capitalize. She later uses a side kick to put Wang off balance before the fighters exchange hooks at close range. Wang attempts to pressure Silva and cut off the cage, but Silva’s footwork allows her to repeatedly escape the danger zone. It becomes another tactical round, with Silva doing enough to maintain her advantage.
Wang begins to find her rhythm in round 4. The Chinese fighter increases her pressure and lands more frequently with her kicks and punches. Silva still has success with her own attacks, but Wang is now forcing her to work harder. Wang lands a solid right hand and continues attacking the body and legs. She also attempts a body lock and spinning elbow, although Silva avoids the elbow and responds with her own clinch work. The momentum begins to shift toward Wang as the round closes.
Knowing she needs a strong finish, Wang comes forward aggressively from the opening moments. The fighters exchange in the clinch before Silva reverses position. Wang lands a clean punch on the break and follows with another combination. Silva appears to slow as Wang continues attacking the legs and pressing forward. A left hook hurts Silva, forcing the champion to move away and reset. Wang continues hunting for the finish, landing another overhand right and pressing Silva toward the fence. Silva survives the late assault, ties Wang up when necessary and avoids giving her the opportunity to close the show. The final bell sounds with Silva ahead on the scorecards.
After five competitive rounds, the judges award Silva the victory by unanimous decision, 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. The win extends Silva’s winning streak to 15 fights and makes her the UFC’s new women’s flyweight champion. She also remains unbeaten inside the UFC, improving to 9-0 in the Octagon. Wang makes a strong late push, but Silva’s speed, accuracy and early-round control prove decisive.
“I want to tell this to everyone, if you’re in a moment of darkness, when you’re down, when you’re letting down, don’t give up on anything,” Silva says after the fight via a Portuguese translator. Silva calls Wang an amazing athlete, “and now it’s my time. This is the beginning of Natalia Silva, I’m the new queen.”
Earlier on the UFC 332 main card, Esteban Ribovics delivers a devastating performance against veteran King Green, stopping him by TKO at 4:08 of the opening round.
Green opens with a push kick before Ribovics begins working his leg kicks and heavy left hand. Ribovics quickly takes the initiative, pressing forward with combinations while Green uses his movement to avoid the Argentine’s early attacks. The two exchange body and leg kicks before briefly tying up against the fence, where both men work short knees. Back in the center, Green fires his jab and attacks the body, but Ribovics continues looking for openings with his left hand. As the round progresses, the Argentine begins to find his range and increases the pressure. Then everything changes.
Ribovics unleashes a powerful combination that ends with a left hook that drops Green. The veteran manages to get back to his feet, but Ribovics immediately goes after him. Another combination sends Green crashing to the canvas for the second knockdown. Green refuses to give in and works his way back upright, but Ribovics has found his target. The Argentine closes the distance once again and lands another damaging sequence, putting Green down for a third time.
The Referee steps in at 4:08, bringing the fight to an end. Green immediately protests the stoppage, believing he could continue, but the veteran later gets up and embraces Ribovics after the fight.
“I’m sorry I missed weight,” Ribovics shouted to the crowd. “Next time I’m going to be more professional. I trained for that. I train everyday. To bring violence to the octagon. I have my wedding in one month … I’m ready for the next.” The victory gives Ribovics back-to-back stoppage wins over veteran opposition after his knockout of Barboza in August. He improves to 17-3, while Green’s four-fight winning streak comes to an end.
