UFC flyweight champion Natália Silva says she doesn't need to fight Valentina Shevchenko to legitimize her reign, though she'd be ready if the former champion returns.
What we know
- Natália Silva won the vacant UFC women's flyweight title at UFC 332 on Oct. 3, beating Wang Cong in the main event.
- Silva says she does not need to fight Valentina Shevchenko to legitimize her reign.
Pos-LutaNatália Silva has been champion for a month, and some in the sport still treat her title as unfinished business. Her answer, in an interview with Ag. Fight reported by Pos-Luta, is that the belt needs no co-sign.
The argument she is pushing back on is simple: Valentina Shevchenko ruled the flyweight division for years, so the reign of anyone else is incomplete until they face her. Silva rejects that framing. Her case rests on how she got the belt. It was vacant, Shevchenko was injured and not fighting, and Silva took the opportunity in the cage. "Nobody gave me the belt," she said, in a translated quote.
The path was not easy. Silva beat Wang Cong by unanimous decision over five rounds at UFC 332, with scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. The closest cards show how competitive the fight was, which gives her argument weight: she earned the title in a title fight, not by default. At 29, the Brazilian southpaw from Team Borracha now holds the belt in a division she had been climbing.
She was careful not to turn this into a feud. Silva wished Shevchenko a good recovery and said she respects her legacy. She also did not close the door. If the former champion decides to return, Silva says she will be ready.
That leaves the matchup dependent on Shevchenko. Silva says she will not tie her reign to the former champion's decisions, and a fight cannot be booked until Shevchenko is healthy and chooses to come back. Until then, watch for who the UFC lines up as Silva's first challenger and whether Shevchenko gives any update on her recovery.
The argument she is pushing back on is simple: Valentina Shevchenko ruled the flyweight division for years, so the reign of anyone else is incomplete until they face her. Silva rejects that framing. Her case rests on how she got the belt. It was vacant, Shevchenko was injured and not fighting, and Silva took the opportunity in the cage. "Nobody gave me the belt," she said, in a translated quote.
The path was not easy. Silva beat Wang Cong by unanimous decision over five rounds at UFC 332, with scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46. The closest cards show how competitive the fight was, which gives her argument weight: she earned the title in a title fight, not by default. At 29, the Brazilian southpaw from Team Borracha now holds the belt in a division she had been climbing.
She was careful not to turn this into a feud. Silva wished Shevchenko a good recovery and said she respects her legacy. She also did not close the door. If the former champion decides to return, Silva says she will be ready.
That leaves the matchup dependent on Shevchenko. Silva says she will not tie her reign to the former champion's decisions, and a fight cannot be booked until Shevchenko is healthy and chooses to come back. Until then, watch for who the UFC lines up as Silva's first challenger and whether Shevchenko gives any update on her recovery.
- Summary
- UFC flyweight champion Natália Silva says she doesn't need to fight Valentina Shevchenko to legitimize her reign, though she'd be ready if the former champion returns.
- Key points (one per line)
- Silva told Ag. Fight she doesn't need a Shevchenko fight to prove she is the real champion.
Silva won the vacant flyweight belt by beating Wang Cong in the UFC 332 main event on Oct. 3.
She wished Shevchenko a good recovery and said she would be ready if Shevchenko returns.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Pos-Luta | https://posluta.com/natalia-silva-rebate-cobranca-por-duelo-com-shevchenko-eu-sou-a-campea/
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