Utah is hosting the UFC again at UFC 332, and the main event is a title fight that nobody anticipated would headline anything. Natalia Silva faces Cong Wang for the vacant women’s flyweight championship, and Yahoo Sports‘s preview concedes the pairing feels stretched thin across nearly every promotional angle.
Silva and the Title Shot
Natalia Silva made her UFC debut in 2022 after a two-and-a-half-year layoff. Once she hit the Octagon, she was a problem for most of the division. She outmanoeuvred Jasmine Jasudavicius over three rounds, looking fast enough to trouble anyone in her weight class.
Silva’s entire argument hinges on pace. Among the quickest fighters in the UFC for her weight class, that advantage has covered some poor execution. She tried wrestling against the far stronger Tereza Bleda before landing a strike, and she frequently leaves openings that could be exploited — assuming an opponent can ever keep up with her tempo.
Her title bid came down to a January win over Rose Namajunas, yet that bout may have weakened her standing instead. Silva remained obviously the quicker fighter, but Namajunas had the reach to match her from distance and the patience to avoid rushing into Silva’s attack. The dull contest almost ended in a decision loss to Namajunas and would probably prove ruinous against the technical skill of champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Wang’s Rise and Her Defeat
While Silva came into this matchup as a clear title contender, Wang did not. She is a genuine talent who would carry a ready-made storyline into a potential Shevchenko fight should she take the belt, thanks to their kickboxing history. That rivalry dates back to a Wang victory that took place shortly before Shevchenko’s 2015 UFC debut.
The UFC brought Wang into its ranks in 2024, and she appeared to be a natural fit for rapid advancement toward a title fight. But then her career took a turn for the worse. She was ahead in her bout against Gabriella Fernandes until Fernandes landed a counter that left Wang stunned, leading to a choke on the mat and a defeat that handed Wang her first mixed martial arts loss in a major upset.
After the loss, “The Joker” has taken note of what her rivals bring to the table. Following a run of performances that were overly cautious, she has struck a better balance between aggression and control. Against Eduarda Moura, she managed defense and attack with real skill. Then, over three rounds, she wore down Tracy Cortez on her feet, turning the bout into a one-sided contest.
The Other Main Card Matches
Deiveson Figueiredo is a former flyweight champion stepping into the cage against Payton Talbott, and the betting line shows a wide gap between the two fighters. Talbott is listed at -625, while Figueiredo sits at +455 on the odds board.
A showdown between King Green and Esteban Ribovics is long overdue. The knockout specialist Roberto Soldic finally steps into the octagon for his first UFC fight. Middleweight contender Ateba Abega Gautier aims to secure his most significant victory yet over Roman Kopylov.
What the Preview Says About the Fight
The preview frames the fight as stretched thin in almost every promotional aspect, as it doesn’t feel much like a headliner or title fight and might not even be all that exciting, but it’s at least an intellectually interesting fight that should tell us something about whoever winds up as the UFC’s new flyweight champion.
The approach she took appeared to wear her down, yet Silva’s first five-round fight will be a curiosity. She hasn’t was using a method that usually leads most fighters to run short during the championship rounds.
A wager on Wang looks sensible here. She should remain dependable across five rounds, and her grasp of distance is sufficient that she could vex Silva in much the same way Namajunas did.
Key Numbers
- Main event: Natalia Silva (-205) vs. Cong Wang (+170)
- Bantamweight undercard: Payton Talbott (-625) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (+455)
- Silva’s record: 20-5-1
- Wang’s record: 10-1
How the Card Stacks Up
| Match | Odds | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Silva vs. Wang | Silva (-205) / Wang (+170) | Title fight, first five-round fight for both |
| Talbott vs. Figueiredo | Talbott (-625) / Figueiredo (+455) | Heavy favourite |
| Green vs. Ribovics | N/A | Barnburner expected |
| Soldic vs. Williams | N/A | Debut for knockout artist |
| Gautier vs. Kopylov | N/A | Middleweight clash |
Our View on the Headline
The twist in the tale is what makes this story work. The title bout is being treated as a reach, yet the challenger carries a real, personal connection to the champion who is stepping away. That is what gives the fight its appeal, going beyond mere odds.
Wang carries recent form into this match, while Silva remains the player to beat. The selection lands on Wang by decision.
Utah gets a solid night of MMA, with the rest of the card matched for action.
Source material: “Preview: UFC 332 ‘Silva vs. Wang’,” Yahoo Sports.
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