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Natalia Silva claps back at Valentina Shevchenko after winning UFC title, tells her to get in line

UFC flyweight champion Natalia Silva sealed the vacant title with a unanimous decision victory over Wang Cong at UFC 332, improving to an undefeated 9-0 record. The belt, vacated after Valentina Shevchenko’s injury, now rests on Silva’s waist after she outlasted the Chinese challenger in a main-event showdown in Salt Lake City.

Silva’s win came just days after Shevchenko, who had remained silent since the UFC announced her departure from the division, posted a cryptic congratulatory message—only to be met with a sharp rebuttal from Silva, who dismissed the former champion’s claims to the belt in a post-fight interview. Silva, who had previously defeated ex-champions Jessica Andrade and Alexa Grasso, made clear she sees no urgency in waiting for Shevchenko’s return, stating she plans to defend the title early in 2027 and intends to fight more frequently while her prime lasts.

Shevchenko’s last title defense came in November 2025, a decision win over Zhang Weili, while Silva’s last bout before this fight was a two-month gap—timed to capitalize on Shevchenko’s extended layoff.

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