UFC 332 just crowned a new queen in the women’s flyweight division, and trust me, Natalia Silva earned that strap! After grinding out a unanimous decision win over Wang Cong, Silva cemented what we’ve all been saying: she’s been viewed as the next-best flyweight to Valentina Shevchenko, a view that’s now confirmed. She clearly banked all three rounds, staying the busier striker and not letting Cong get into any sort of rhythm. Even when the fight got more competitive later on, Silva stayed a step ahead throughout the championship bout.
The Champ Is Here, And So Is Her Biggest Challenge
But hold up, because no sooner did Silva get the belt than the former queen made her presence felt. Valentina Shevchenko, who’s at worst the second-greatest women’s fighter of all time, didn’t even lose her title in the octagon. And after Silva’s hand was raised, Shevchenko dropped a bombshell on X, a message that’s got the entire division buzzing. She wrote: “Well deserved Natalia! Congratulations! It’s my pleasure to know that UFC Champion’s belt is now holding deserving martial artist such as you are! But don’t get too comfortable, keep it warm, I’m coming soon for my belt!” Talk about a mic drop, right? There’s simply no bigger fight in the women’s flyweight division, and frankly, it’s the fight that has to happen next, the one that was supposed to headline UFC 332. This showdown gives other contenders like Alexa Grasso and Fatima Klyne crucial time to build their resumes even more, setting them up for a shot at the title after Silva and Shevchenko settle things.
Talbott’s Quick KO and What It Means For the Bantamweights
Meanwhile, at bantamweight, Payton Talbott put on a show that had everyone talking, making quick work of former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. He TKO’d Figueiredo in the first round, ending the fight without breaking a sweat. This wasn’t a fluke either. It marks two straight wins over former champions for Talbott, who also beat Henry Cejudo in his previous fight. Talbott was already touted as one of the UFC’s brightest prospects, but now, he’s turning into a legitimate contender. He even called out top contender Sean O’Malley after beating Figueiredo, which is a bold move. However, O’Malley might be busy, potentially fighting for the bantamweight title again if Petr Yan beats Merab Dvalishvili. If that’s the case, a fight with O’Malley isn’t happening anytime soon for Talbott, which means he’ll need to pivot. A name that makes perfect sense? Mario Bautista. Bautista is on a rise of his own, racking up four wins in his last five fights, including two in a row against Vinicius Oliveira and Cory Sandhagen. Beating Sandhagen is impressive, but Bautista still needs another fight to stamp himself as a true title challenger. There’s a good chance that no matter who wins the co-main event of UFC 333, Yan will fight O’Malley, and Song Yadong will fight Dvalishvili, leaving Bautista right there.
UFC 332 might have lacked some big-name hype, but it absolutely delivered on the promise of setting up massive fights for early 2027. We’ve got the women’s flyweight division on fire with an undeniable title unification bout on the horizon, and a bantamweight prospect in Talbott who’s ready to explode onto the scene. These are the kinds of matchups that make us tune in, and the next few cards, especially UFC 335 with Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes headlining, are going to be absolutely wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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