Natalia Silva secured a victory over former flyweight champion Alexa Grasso just hours prior to Valentina Shevchenko`s successful 125-pound title defense against Manon Fiorot at UFC 315. With this performance, Silva is now positioning herself as the potential next challenger for the championship belt.
Extending her overall winning streak to an impressive 13 fights, including her seventh consecutive win inside the octagon, Silva expressed confidence that her record justifies a shot at the title.
Speaking after her fight, but before the Shevchenko-Fiorot bout in Montreal, Silva stated, “My main objective is the title. I joined the UFC with the goal of becoming champion, and my focus remains fixed on that belt. I have a personal motivation to face either potential opponent. Valentina once mentioned she wasn`t familiar with me, and I believe the time has come for her to learn exactly who I am.”
The 28-year-old prospect has now claimed back-to-back victories against former UFC champions, defeating Jessica Andrade and Alexa Grasso within an eight-month period. Silva suggested that fans could play a significant role in helping her secure the title opportunity by vocalizing their support on social media platforms.
Silva commented, “I think it makes perfect sense for the fans to advocate for this matchup, as it`s genuinely the fight I desire. Whenever the UFC has proposed an opponent, my response has consistently been, `Let`s do it, I`m ready.` The promotion is well aware of my willingness. They recognize that I possess the capability to become champion. Since arriving in the UFC, I`ve made it clear that my aim is to become not just another champion, but one who leaves a lasting legacy and whose story resonates with people.”
Following UFC 315, Shevchenko was questioned about her next opponent, specifically whether it would be Silva or the current UFC strawweight queen, Zhang Weili. Shevchenko indicated that she would defer the decision regarding her next challenger to the fanbase.
Shevchenko remarked, “Everyone was discussing Weili or Natalia? So, I`m uncertain, perhaps the fans can influence this. If they wish to visit my OnlyFans page and send messages indicating who they want to see me compete against next, we can then compare preferences to determine the appropriate next opponent.”
