Natalia Silva claps back at Valentina Shevchenko after winning UFC title, tells her to get in line

Natalia Silva has no time for Valentina Shevchenko's claims on the flyweight title after capturing the 125-pound belt herself. Silva defeated Wang Cong by unanimous decision at UFC 332 in Utah on Saturday to remain unbeaten at 9-0, claiming the vacant championship that Shevchenko had to vacate due to injury.

Shevchenko broke her silence following Silva's victory with a message that read like a promise: she congratulated the new champion but vowed to reclaim "her" belt upon return. Silva responded in an interview with MMA Fighting, and she wasn't holding back. She dismissed Shevchenko's framing of the title as a temporary possession, emphasizing that the belt now belongs to her and her alone.

"The belt isn't hers anymore, the belt is mine. I'm the champion," Silva said. "I fought for this, I earned it." She also took aim at Shevchenko's inactivity as champion, noting that the former titleholder fought only once per year and frequently took extended time between defenses. Silva, by contrast, wants to remain active and isn't planning to sit idle waiting for any challenger.

Silva expressed interest in facing contenders like Alexa Grasso and Erin Blanchfield in the first half of 2027, but made clear she views Shevchenko as just another name in the queue rather than an automatic next challenger. "To be honest, I'm not worried about Valentina anymore," she said, pivoting her focus to defending against the division's best active competitors. Silva also voiced her dream of defending the title in Brazil, noting she has never competed for the UFC in her home country. For now, the undefeated Brazilian champion plans to celebrate her achievement and fight frequently to make the most of her prime years.