Wang Cong has spent much of her fight career moving towards this moment. The opponent changed, the timing was short and the rankings may have raised questions, but the objective remained the same. On Saturday, the Chinese fighter gets her chance to become the UFC women’s flyweight champion when she takes on No. 1 contender Natalia Silva for the vacant 125-pound title at UFC 332.“Getting the UFC title is reason why I transitioned to MMA. My mind is always there,” Wang told TimesofIndia.com ahead of her main event against Silva.The vacant women’s flyweight title became available after Valentina Shevchenko was forced to relinquish the belt because of injury. Silva, the No. 1 contender, had been expected to face Shevchenko and comes into Salt Lake City with an 8-0 UFC record and a 14-fight winning streak. Her last three victories have come against former champions Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas.On the other hand, the 34-year-old Wang’s route to flyweight title clash has been considerably shorter. She is ranked No. 8 and has six UFC fights behind her, riding on a four-match winnng streak. She most recently beat Tracy Cortez by unanimous decision in July. The ranking difference, however, does not appear to concern her.
Silva brings the resume, Wang brings the confidence
“No, not at all. I believe I’m the best fighter in the world. I don’t care about rankings,” Wang said, before acknowledging Silva’s credentials.“Yes, she definitely will be the toughest opponent I’ve ever faced. She’s number 1 for a reason. But I’m the best striker in the world, I believe. So, let’s see on Saturday night.”Silva has built her run around speed, movement, kicks and distance control, while Wang has developed her reputation through accuracy, pressure and power. Wang expects the fight to stay on the feet.“It’s a short notice. I didn’t change too much of my training method. But, I believe this fight will most likely be a stand up fight.”
A five-round test and a new challenge
She has also prepared for the first five-round fight of her UFC career and believes her conditioning is sufficient for five rounds.“I think my cardio is always enough for 5 rounds. I definitely did a lot conditioning training for this camp. But it’s more of a mental thing, I believe.”The mental adjustment has been part of Wang’s development since the only loss of her professional MMA career. She was submitted by Gabriella Fernandes in November 2024, before responding with four straight decision victories over Bruna Brasil, Ariane da Silva, Eduarda Moura and Cortez.
Wang Cong’s chance to add another chapter to China’s UFC rise
The progression has brought her to a championship fight sooner than many expected. A victory would also give Wang a place in the history of Chinese MMA. Zhang Weili became China’s first UFC champion in 2019, while Yan Xiaonan has also challenged for the belt. Wang now has the opportunity to become the country’s second UFC champion.“It’s meaningful for myself. From Sanda to kickboxing, to boxing, then to MMA. I always want to accomplish something in every combat sport I compete. And I’m just one step away from my ultimate goal,” she said.Wang also sees the moment as part of a broader rise in Chinese MMA. “It shows China is developing fast in MMA. For women, we have Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan. For men, now Song Yadong is the number 3 bantamweight in the world. There will definitely be more to come in the future.”Song, who trains alongside Wang at Team Alpha Male, has also been part of her preparation. He has been giving her advice on both the strategic and mental sides of fighting for a major UFC opportunity and there has been little sign of Wang being overwhelmed by the occasion. Saturday will be her first UFC main event, but she does not regard the setting as fundamentally different.“No, I’ve been competing my whole life. I don’t see this fight as much different.”At Wednesday’s media day, Wang tried to encourage Silva to bring more energy to the promotion of the fight, saying she felt both fighters had a responsibility to make the main event a bigger spectacle. Silva has largely kept her attention on the fight itself. She has described winning the UFC title as the goal regardless of who stands opposite her.For Wang, the implications of victory are straightforward. “If I win, it will be the new era of the UFC women’s flyweight division. I will be in this spot as long as I can.”Tune-In: Watch UFC 332 – Silva vs. Wang, on Sunday, 4th October 2026, from IST 5.30 AM live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) and Sony LIV.
