Shevchenko puts new flyweight champion Silva on notice: 'I'm coming soon for my belt'

Natalia Silva claimed the vacant UFC women’s flyweight title at UFC 332 on Saturday, outpointing Cong Wang by unanimous decision in the main event at Delta Center in Salt Lake City — and within hours, former champion Valentina Shevchenko had already put her on notice.

Shevchenko, who vacated the 125-pound belt due to lingering injuries, took to X to congratulate the Brazilian before delivering a pointed warning. “Well deserved, Natalia! Congratulations! It’s my pleasure to know that UFC Champion’s belt is now holding deserving martial artist — such as you are!” she wrote. “But don’t get too comfortable — keep it warm, I’m coming soon for my belt!”

Silva was dominant throughout the contest, systematically picking apart Wang to extend her unbeaten UFC record to 9-0 and her overall winning streak to 15 consecutive fights. The performance earned Shevchenko’s respect, with the Kyrgyzstan-born fighter acknowledging that Silva is a “deserving” champion.

The backdrop to Shevchenko’s challenge is significant. The 37-year-old remains one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history, and her most recent outing — a victory over Weili Zhang in November 2025 — marked her ninth title defence across two separate reigns at flyweight. She relinquished the championship not through defeat but through injury, leaving the division without its dominant figure and creating the vacancy Silva has now filled.

For Silva, the win caps a remarkable rise through the UFC ranks. The 21-5-1 Brazilian has not lost inside the Octagon, and her performance against Wang demonstrated the kind of technical precision that will be required if she is to hold off Shevchenko’s anticipated return.

No timeline has been given for when Shevchenko might be cleared to compete again, but her message to the new champion leaves little doubt about her intentions once she is.