UFC 332 Flyweight Championship
Natalia Silva and Wang Cong to Headline UFC 332 in Flyweight Title Bout
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Key Points
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Wang Cong is a decorated combat-sports athlete outside the UFC: she won gold medals at the 2013 World Wushu Championships and 2014 Asian Games, as well as a silver medal in amateur boxing at the 2019 World Championships.
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Cong’s UFC career began with a 62-second knockout of Victoria Leonardo in 2024, followed by a submission loss to Gabriella Fernandes; all four of her subsequent UFC victories have come by decision.
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The fight will mark the first time since UFC 289 in 2023 that women headline a numbered UFC event, when Amanda Nunes defended the women’s bantamweight title against Irene Aldana.
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The UFC 332 undercard also includes Johnny Walker’s heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin, while rising fighters Ateba Gautier, Damian Pinas and Imanol Rodriguez are among the other confirmed competitors.
Natalia Silva and Wang Cong will fight for the UFC women's flyweight title at UFC 332 on October 3 in Salt Lake City, airing on CBS and Paramount+. The bout emerged after Valentina Shevchenko vacated the belt due to an injury expected to sideline her up to a year, according to MMA Mania.
Silva enters as a heavy favorite at -250 odds versus Cong's +205, Yahoo Sports reports. Silva is 8-0 in the UFC with a 14-fight winning streak and recent victories over former champions Rose Namajunas, Alexa Grasso and Jessica Andrade.
Silva's Dominance Meets Cong's Striking Credentials
Natalia Silva arrives as the clear-cut favorite with her perfect 8-0 UFC record and dominant string of wins over former champions. Her speed and grappling are seen as key advantages in this matchup, giving her a blueprint to control the fight on the ground and dictate pace.
Wang Cong brings a different toolkit: a 5-1 UFC record with four consecutive wins, all by decision. Fight Mag notes Cong recently defeated Tracy Cortez and owns a striking pedigree spanning wushu gold medals and amateur boxing credentials.
Cong's Surprise History Against Shevchenko
Wang Cong holds an unusual card in her hand: a 2015 kickboxing decision victory over Valentina Shevchenko, though the former champion has disputed the scoring. A UFC title win would give Cong grounds to demand a high-profile MMA rematch with Shevchenko, adding major implications to this bout.
Cong's path is especially remarkable because she has only six UFC appearances. She started with a 62-second knockout of Victoria Leonardo in 2024, then absorbed a submission loss before stringing together four consecutive victories, demonstrating rapid improvement.
Historic Platform for Women's Flyweight
This matchup marks the first time since UFC 289 in 2023 that women headline a numbered UFC event, Yahoo Sports reports. Amanda Nunes headlined that event defending her bantamweight title against Irene Aldana, making Silva vs. Cong a significant visibility milestone for women's combat sports.
The co-main event features bantamweights Payton Talbott and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The undercard also includes Johnny Walker's heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin, with rising prospects Ateba Gautier, Damian Pinas and Imanol Rodriguez scheduled to compete.
Shevchenko's Year-Long Absence Reshapes Division
MMA Mania reports Valentina Shevchenko vacated the flyweight championship due to an injury keeping her out of action for up to a year. Her departure forces the UFC to crown a new champion immediately rather than wait for her return.
The winner of Silva vs. Cong will become the division's active champion and likely face Shevchenko in a title unification bout once she recovers. This structure protects the division's competitive integrity while providing interim leadership during the extended absence.
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