Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong
UFC 332 · October 3, 2026 · Delta Center · Main Card 8:00 PM ET
The brief
- What kind of fight
- Speed and range vs. come-forward boxing
- Finish likelihood
- Low
- The line
- No line posted yet
- The stakes
- Women's Flyweight · Title fight · Main event
The read
Silva's movement and kicking output should be the deciding factor in a fight that came together on short notice for both women.
Wang's boxing volume and durability give her a path if she can cut off the cage and turn this into a firefight, but Silva's 90 percent takedown defense and superior speed have been enough to beat better athletes than Wang has faced.
Expect a competitive, high-output five rounds that leans Silva on volume and defense, with a new champion crowned either way.
The matchup
Nobody expected this pairing three weeks ago, but a vacant title fight is a vacant title fight.
Silva is the far more well-rounded threat, with speed and kicks that have solved five straight ranked opponents and a takedown defense rate that makes her nearly impossible to control. Wang is a live puncher with real volume and a granite chin who has won every fight since her only loss, but she has never faced anyone as fast or as difficult to hit clean as Silva.
The one piece of trivia everyone will mention is that Wang already has a decision win over Shevchenko — in kickboxing, a decade ago, in a very different sport.
Tale of the tape
| 20-5-1 | Record | 10-1 |
| 29 | Age | 34 |
| 5'4" | Height | 5'7" |
| 65" | Reach | 66.5" |
| Southpaw | Stance | Southpaw |
| Brazil | Country | China |
| Team Borracha | Team | — |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Natalia Silva 20-5-1
Silva is a Brazilian flyweight contender on a 14-fight win streak, unbeaten in the UFC with wins over Grasso, Andrade and Namajunas. A taekwondo-based southpaw, she fights off constant movement, speed and unorthodox kicks, and is nearly impossible to take down. Her long-awaited title shot against Valentina Shevchenko fell apart when Shevchenko withdrew with a serious back and shoulder injury and vacated the belt; Silva now fights Wang Cong for the vacant championship instead.
- WRose Namajunas · Decision (unanimous)UFC 324 · January 24, 2026
- WAlexa Grasso · Decision (unanimous)UFC 315 · May 10, 2025
- WJessica Andrade · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night 242 · September 7, 2024
Wang Cong 10-1
“The Joker”
Wang Cong is a 34-year-old Chinese flyweight who arrived in the UFC with one of the most decorated striking backgrounds in the division: a national sanda champion, an Asian Games gold medalist, and a long professional kickboxing career that included a 2015 decision win over a young Valentina Shevchenko. She stopped Victoria Leonardo in 62 seconds on her UFC debut and has since won every fight since her lone promotional loss, most recently a unanimous decision over Tracy Cortez at UFC 329 in July 2026. She now steps in on short notice for the injured Shevchenko, fighting for a vacant title in the biggest opportunity of her career.
- WTracy Cortez · Decision (unanimous)UFC 329 · July 11, 2026
- WEduarda Moura · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night · February 7, 2026
- WAriane da Silva · Decision (unanimous)UFC 316 · June 7, 2025