New UFC Flyweight Championship Match
Natalia Silva and Wang Cong to Fight for Vacant UFC Flyweight Title
Anonymous
Natalia Silva and Wang Cong are scheduled to fight for the vacant UFC women’s flyweight title at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on Oct. 3, after Valentina Shevchenko relinquished the belt while recovering from an injury. Silva enters on an eight-fight UFC winning streak, while Cong has won four straight and says she is ready despite a short preparation period; Cong also holds a 2015 kickboxing win over Shevchenko. The matchup has drawn criticism from commentators who say Cong bypassed more deserving contenders and the card falls short of the usual standard for a numbered event, while others cite business considerations and say the winner can build a championship legacy through successful defenses. The bantamweight co-main event pairs Payton Talbott, who has won his last two fights, with former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who is coming off two losses.
Key Points
1
Before the title fight, Silva had beaten former champions Rose Namajunas and Alexa Grasso; her win over Namajunas came by unanimous decision at UFC 324.
2
Cong’s most recent victory was a unanimous decision over Tracy Cortez, despite Cong losing a point in the second round for an illegal knee.
3
Shevchenko holds the UFC women’s record for most total title defenses, with nine; lingering back and shoulder ligament damage led her to relinquish the belt.
4
Cong described the matchup as a contest between “two world-class strikers” and said the winner would need to control the fight’s rhythm and show greater desire.
Sentiment
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Publishers
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Reach
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