UFC flyweight champion Natália Silva: 'I am the champion' without fighting Shevchenko

MMA-TV Newsroom Summarized with AI Today at 4:24 PM AI checked Today at 4:24 PM

The bottom line

UFC flyweight champion Natália Silva told Ag. Fight she does not need to fight Valentina Shevchenko to legitimize her reign: 'Nobody gave me the belt.'

UFC flyweight champion Natália Silva: 'I am the champion' without fighting Shevchenko — Photo via Pos-Luta · added Today at 4:24 PM

What we know

Silva told Ag. Fight she does not need to fight Shevchenko to legitimize her reign and says she is ready if Shevchenko returns.
Silva says the belt was vacant because Shevchenko was injured.

Reported, not confirmed

Natália Silva won the UFC flyweight title on Oct. 3 by beating Wang Cong in the UFC 332 main event. Pos-Luta / Ag. Fight

Today at 4:24 PM

Natália Silva, the new UFC flyweight champion, brushed off calls to fight Valentina Shevchenko in an interview with Ag. Fight, reported by Pos-Luta. Silva won the belt on Oct. 3 by beating Wang Cong in the UFC 332 main event.

Some in the MMA community argue Shevchenko is a must-fight to settle the division. Silva disagrees: "Many people say: you have to fight Valentina to be the real champion. No! I am the champion. The belt was vacant, she didn't fight because she was injured. Nobody gave me the belt" (translated).

She wished Shevchenko a good recovery, said she respects her legacy and would be ready if the former champion returns, but does not plan to tie her reign to Shevchenko's decisions.

Summary: UFC flyweight champion Natália Silva told Ag. Fight she does not need to fight Valentina Shevchenko to legitimize her reign: 'Nobody gave me the belt.'

Key points (one per line): Silva won the flyweight title on Oct. 3 by beating Wang Cong in the UFC 332 main event, per Ag. Fight.
She says the belt was vacant because Shevchenko was injured and she earned it herself.
She says she is ready if Shevchenko returns, and wished her a good recovery.

Also reported by (Name | URL per line): Pos-Luta | https://posluta.com/natalia-silva-rebate-cobranca-por-duelo-com-shevchenko-eu-sou-a-campea/

Know more? Send the newsroom a tip; if it makes the story, you get the credit

Fighters in this story

Sources

Pos-Luta

Summarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.

Is this story accurate?

Click to expand...