Natalia Silva officially locked up the next women's flyweight title shot after defeating Rose Namajunas at UFC 324, moving to the #1 contender position at 125 pounds. Silva was already ranked #2 heading into the event but secured the top spot with her victory. She will now challenge champion Valentina Shevchenko, who recently defended her title against Weili Zhang at UFC 322. Silva's win represents a fresh challenge for 'Bullet' and sets up a significant title bout in the women's flyweight division.
Reports indicate that Natalia Silva has earned the number-one contender position in the women's flyweight division following her victory over Rose Namajunas at UFC 324, setting up a potential title challenge against champion Valentina Shevchenko. The news has not been officially confirmed.
Silva, 29, carries a record of 20-5-1 and trains out of Team Borracha in Brazil. The five-foot-four southpaw holds a 65-inch reach and has built a reputation as a high-volume striker, averaging 4.81 significant strikes landed per minute — a rate that stands among the most active in the division. She entered UFC 324 ranked fifth at 125 pounds and reportedly vaulted to the top contender spot with the win over Namajunas.
Rose Namajunas, ranked sixth heading into the bout, fell to 15-8-0 with the defeat. The 34-year-old American, who trains at 303 Training Center, is a well-rounded orthodox fighter standing five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach. She averages 3.5 significant strikes per minute and has shown submission threat throughout her career, averaging 0.3 attempts per 15 minutes.
Awaiting the winner is Valentina Shevchenko, the reigning women's flyweight champion. The 38-year-old from Kyrgyzstan owns a 26-4-1 record and recently defended her title against Weili Zhang at UFC 322. Shevchenko, a southpaw who trains at Tiger Muay Thai, stands five-foot-five with a 66-inch reach. She averages 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and supplements her striking with 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Silva's high striking output at 4.81 strikes per minute would test Shevchenko's championship-level defense in a contrasting volume-versus-accuracy matchup
- Both fighters are southpaws, adding a technical wrinkle to any potential title fight
- The divisional picture at 125 pounds continues to shift around Shevchenko's long-standing reign
