The belt is vacant, the odds are stacked, and Wang Cong doesn't care. The No. 8 ranked Chinese striker is set to clash with Natalia Silva in the main event of UFC 332, a bout that has arrived faster than either fighter likely planned. With Valentina Shevchenko sidelined by injury, the 125-pound division is in flux, and Wang is betting her entire career on Saturday's fight in Salt Lake City. She isn't asking for a fair fight; she's demanding the title.
Silva is the favorite, and for good reason. The No. 1 contender enters with a pristine 8-0 record in the UFC and a 14-fight winning streak that includes takedowns of former champions Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso, and Rose Namajunas. Her game is built on speed, movement, and precise distance control. Wang, however, is bringing a different kind of energy. She’s a pressure fighter. Her last four wins have been unanimous decisions, and she believes her accuracy will dismantle Silva’s pace. “I’m the best striker in the world,” Wang told TimesofIndia.com. “I don’t care about rankings.”
This is a first for Wang. A five-round main event. A championship bout. It’s a massive step up from her last fight in July, where she outworked Tracy Cortez. But she’s not shaking. Since her only professional loss to Gabriella Fernandes in November 2024, she’s been on a tear. Four straight wins. Four straight decisions. She’s been drilling her conditioning, but she insists the real battle is mental. “It’s more of a mental thing,” she said, noting that her cardio has always been ready for the distance.
The stakes extend beyond her own belt. A win here makes Wang China’s second UFC champion, following the path paved by Zhang Weili in 2019. It’s a moment for the country’s rising MMA scene. Back home, Song Yadong is climbing the bantamweight rankings, and Wang sees this fight as a catalyst for the next wave of Chinese fighters. She trains with him at Team Alpha Male, and his advice has been key in keeping her focused. For Wang, victory isn’t just a title fight; it’s a declaration. “If I win, it will be the new era of the UFC women's flyweight division,” she promised.
Catch the clash live on Sunday, October 4, 2026, starting at 5:30 AM IST on Sony Sports Ten and Sony LIV.