The UFC women’s flyweight division is about to crown a new champion on October 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, and it’s all because two-time titleholder Valentina Shevchenko had to relinquish her belt. This is a massive shift for the division, opening up a wild opportunity for two top contenders.
Shevchenko’s Unexpected Exit Sets The Stage
Valentina Shevchenko, who last fought in November 2025 beating Zhang Weili via decision at UFC 322 to move her record to an insane 26-4-1, is sidelined for nearly a year. She’s suffering from ligament damage to her back and shoulders that will keep her out of action, forcing her to surrender the title. That’s a brutal blow for any champion, but it means the UFC had to move fast, booking the number one ranked Natalia Silva against the number eight ranked Wang Cong to headline UFC 332 for the now-vacant strap. Talk about high stakes!
Natalia Silva’s Relentless Climb to the Top
So, who is Natalia Silva? This 29-year-old boasts a 20-5-1 record and is the number one contender for a reason. She’s a former Jungle Fights flyweight titleholder who signed with the UFC in 2020. However, injuries kept her out of the Octagon until 2022, including a broken arm. But once she made her debut against Jasmine Jasudavicius, winning by decision, there was no stopping her. Silva has stacked up seven more UFC wins, taking on tougher opponents in each fight. She really got everyone’s attention with her September 2024 decision victory over former UFC strawweight champion Jessica Andrade, which even snagged her a “Fight of the Night” bonus. Since then, she’s kept that momentum going, besting two more former UFC titleholders, Alexa Grasso in May 2025 and Rose Namajunas in her most recent outing in January, both also by decision. This woman is a certified problem for anyone in the 125-pound division.
Wang Cong’s Path: A Knockout Debut and an Ironic Twist
On the other side of the Octagon stands Wang Cong, a 34-year-old with a 10-1 record. She joined the UFC in 2024 with a lot of fanfare, and get this: she already beat Valentina Shevchenko back in 2015 in a kickboxing match! How wild is it that she’s now fighting for the title Shevchenko just relinquished? Cong made a huge statement in her UFC debut, scoring an impressive knockout win over Victoria Leonardo. She hit a small speed bump in her next fight, getting choked out by Gabriella Fernandes. But that setback only fueled her, as she’s since gone 4-0 with four decision victories, including her July 11 win over Tracey Cortez. This number eight ranked fighter brings a unique challenge and a serious history to this title fight.
October 3 is more than just a fight night; it’s the night a new women’s flyweight champion gets crowned in Salt Lake City. With Shevchenko out for the long haul, the division is wide open. We’re getting two fierce competitors, each with incredible journeys and something massive to prove. This is going to be epic.
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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