UFC 332 Report: Is Natalia Silva the true UFC women’s flyweight champion?
Natalia Silva has claimed the vacant UFC women's flyweight title after defeating Wang Cong at UFC 332. MMA analysts are debating whether she is a legitimate champion or a placeholder given the continued presence of divisional legend Valentina Shevchenko.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the complexities of title legitimacy in combat sports when a dominant former champion remains active in the division.
Natalia Silva is the new UFC women’s flyweight champion.
Or is she?
On Saturday night in Salt Lake City, Silva used her trademark style to edge out Wang Cong over 25 minutes to claim the vacant women’s 125-pound title. But though Silva is undefeated in the UFC and on an impressive win streak, does she really deserve to be called the flyweight champion, or is she merely a placeholder until Valentina Shevchenko — divisional GOAT and future Hall of Famer — returns?
We rounded up the MMA Fighting crew to discuss this very thing, along with all the other major storylines coming out of UFC 332.
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