New UFC flyweight champion Silva tells Shevchenko to get in line after claiming vacant belt

Natalia Silva wasted no time asserting her authority as UFC flyweight champion, firing back at Valentina Shevchenko just moments after defeating Wang Cong by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 332 in Utah on Saturday night.

The victory lifted Silva to a perfect 9-0 record and handed her the 125-pound belt that had been vacated following Shevchenko’s injury. The former champion, who had gone quiet since the UFC stripped her of the title, broke her silence after the fight with a pointed message on social media.

“It’s my pleasure to know that UFC champion’s belt is now holding deserving martial artist — such as you are,” Shevchenko wrote. “But don’t get too comfortable — keep it warm, I’m coming soon for my belt!”

Silva acknowledged the congratulations but took clear exception to Shevchenko’s language in an interview with MMA Fighting.

“The first thing she already got wrong in that post was talking about how the belt is hers,” Silva said. “‘My belt. I’m going to get my belt.’ The belt isn’t hers anymore, the belt is mine. I’m the champion. I fought for this, I earned it, so I’m the champion now. And as far as keeping the belt warm, she doesn’t need to worry because I’m going to take very good care of it.”

Silva also took aim at Shevchenko’s activity levels during her reign, pointing out that the former champion typically defended the title just once a year. “She wasn’t even keeping it warm herself. She would take a year between fights. She was fighting once a year, and now she’s talking about keeping the belt warm?”

Shevchenko last defended the title in November 2025, beating Zhang Weili by decision. Silva, meanwhile, had been building momentum with victories over former champions Jessica Andrade and Alexa Grasso before returning against Rose Namajunas — a fight she took after realising Shevchenko’s defence was being delayed indefinitely.

Now unbeaten for nine years, Silva says she has no intention of sitting idle and waiting for any particular challenger, Shevchenko included.

“I want to fight soon. I don’t want to sit around. I like fighting. I haven’t gotten injured, I don’t get injured in my fights, so I want to take advantage of my youth,” she said. “I believe that by the beginning of the year, in the first half of the year, I’ll already want to be fighting.”

On the prospect of a Shevchenko rematch specifically, Silva was notably cool. “To be honest, I’m not worried about Valentina anymore. I wanted to fight her because she was the champion, because she had what I wanted. Now, whether it’s her or someone else, it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m the champion now, and I’m the one who has to defend it.”