Natalia Silva beats Wang Cong to win vacant UFC flyweight title

Natalia Silva won the vacant UFC women's flyweight championship with a unanimous decision over China's Wang Cong in Salt Lake City, according to BBC Sport. The Brazilian prevailed after five rounds, with two judges scoring the contest 48-47 and the third returning a 49-46 card, giving her victory on every scorecard.

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The title had become available after Valentina Shevchenko vacated it because of injury last month. Silva had originally been scheduled to challenge Shevchenko before that contest was cancelled. Instead, the 29-year-old faced Wang for the vacant belt and emerged as the division's new champion, rather than taking the title directly from its previous holder.

BBC Sport reported that Silva entered the fight as the favourite and extended her winning run to 15 bouts. That sequence stretches back to 2017. The championship victory added a title to that sustained run of results, with Silva completing the full five-round contest against Wang to secure the decision.

In her post-fight interview, Silva encouraged others to persevere and credited God for the opportunity to become champion. She also acknowledged the difficulty of facing Wang, saying the contest had demonstrated why her opponent had earned the chance to challenge. Silva presented the achievement as the beginning of a new stage in her career.

Shevchenko responded on social media by congratulating Silva and describing her as a deserving champion. The former titleholder also made clear that she intends to return for the belt, warning Silva against becoming too comfortable. Her message expressed an ambition to reclaim the championship, rather than confirming a scheduled fight between the pair.

The card also marked a return to women headlining a numbered UFC event. BBC Sport identified Amanda Nunes' victory over Irene Aldana in June 2023 as the previous occasion on which two women had topped one of those shows.

Earlier in the event, Britain's Mick Parkin was knocked out by Johnny Walker in less than four minutes. Walker finished the contest with a knee on his heavyweight debut, giving the Brazilian a winning start in the division before Silva's championship success later on the card.