Natalia Silva is the new queen of the UFC flyweight title, securing a unanimous decision win over Wang Cong in the main event of UFC 332. This isn’t just a win, it’s the crowning achievement of a torrid run through the division that has everyone talking. The big question, though, is what happens with former champion Valentina Shevchenko, who vacated the belt due to a shoulder and back injury that’s going to keep her out for a bit. The division needed to keep moving, and now we’ve got a new champion to make things really interesting. So, let’s break down who Silva could face next, and what’s on the cards for Wang Cong after coming up short.
Who Can Even Challenge The New Queen?
Look, fair or not, there are going to be whispers about Silva’s legitimacy as champion until Valentina Shevchenko’s shadow leaves the division. “The Bullet” didn’t lose that belt in the cage, she dropped it because of an injury. Given how dominant she’s been, you just can’t ignore that fact. The absolute dream scenario for Silva is Shevchenko making a lightning-fast recovery, getting back into fighting shape, and stepping into the octagon with Silva ASAP. That’s the fight everyone wants to see to truly settle things.
If that’s not happening immediately, Silva needs to keep a very close eye on the upcoming clash between Erin Blanchfield and Jasmine Jasudavicius. Blanchfield is on fire, coming off back-to-back wins against Rose Namajunas and Tracy Cortez. Imagine the momentum Jasudavicius would get if she beat Blanchfield, especially after winning six of her last seven fights already. That winner could absolutely be next in line. And then there’s Alexa Grasso as a decent third option. She’s got a loss to Silva already, yeah, but she’s bounced back with wins over Maycee Barber and Manon Fiorot since then. The division is stacked, and Silva’s got targets everywhere.
What’s Next for Cong After Coming Up Short?
Bouncing back after a title loss is one of the hardest things in this sport. But for Cong, there’s a silver lining: a lot of contenders in this division are also coming off losses and itching to get back into the mix. That October 17th matchup between Erin Blanchfield and Jasmine Jasudavicius is going to be massive for the division; while the winner might get a title shot if Shevchenko’s recovery drags, the loser is definitely tumbling down the rankings. Cong is right there with them.
The UFC could totally set up some intriguing matchups between fighters who are both hungry to rebound. Manon Fiorot is already in that boat. She’s lost two out of her last three fights, but don’t forget she had a first-round knockout win over Jasudavicius in between those. Fiorot’s striking could really challenge Cong, but she’s also shown enough cracks to be a winnable fight that could get Cong back on track. And then there’s Maycee Barber, another fighter reeling from a devastating loss. She had a seven-fight win streak brutally snapped by a first-round knockout loss to Alexa Grasso. Both Barber and Cong are looking to restart their runs after crushing defeats, making that a compelling potential bout. The flyweight division is heating up, and these next few fights are going to shape everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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