Natalia Silva captured the vacant flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over 125-pound striker Wang Cong in the UFC 332 main event last weekend in Salt Lake City. The Brazilian is expected to make her first title defense against former division champion Valentina Shevchenko at some point in early 2027, unless the promotion pivots and has Silva take on longtime “Bullet” rival and ex-flyweight titleholder Alex Grasso.
Silva opened as the +165 underdog against Shevchenko, who is currently
a -190 favorite at BetOnline.ag. The line shifts dramatically for the Grasso fight, with Silva sitting at -300 opposite +250 for the Mexican bruiser. What direction matchmakers take could depend on how quickly Shevchenko recovers from the injury that cost her the 125-pound strap.
“Does she have a lingering injury, yes,” longtime reporter Ariel Helwani said on his recent podcast. “If the UFC would have had another title fight for October 3, would she still be champion, yes. Did she willingly give up that belt, no. Absolutely not. They needed a title fight. They said we’ll do right by you when you come back, you’ll get the title fight.”
Shevchenko and Grasso are currently ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the division, respectively.
