Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Women’s Flyweight Contenders Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong will meet TONIGHT (Saturday, October 3, 2026) at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah UFC 332.
It’s hard to believe that Silva started his pro career with a dismal 1-3 run. It makes a little more sense when you realize he was 18 and those losses came 11 years ago! In fact, Silva turned the corner in 2018, winning 14 straight fights to join the UFC roster, climb the ranks and earn his first gold. At just 29, he has plenty of experience and is clearly in his prime.
Having the experience of the Sanda competition from 2013, Cong has also been in the quarter a few times. Of course, she defeated Valentina Shevchenko in kickboxing in 2015 as well, preparing her for MMA. Since stepping into the cage in 2022, Cong has quickly established himself as a world-class fighter, amassing a 5-1 record in the UFC.
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:
Silva vs. Cong Betting odds
Silva has a Taekwondo background that definitely comes through in the cage. Strikes are his bread and butter, most of his volume is on his feet. His boxing is enthusiastic, supported more by athleticism and fearlessness than fluid form. Still, he’s a high-volume kickboxer who consistently bullies and breaks down opponents.
As a result, he gets stronger as the arguments progress.
In this kickboxer game, jabbing becomes more important. I understand that Silva uses the side kick as his ranged weapon, but if he’s going to trade Cong in the pocket, he better find his boxing distance. Silva should double down on the jab and take it to the body, which will help him create a rhythm.
Between the two, Silva is the more experienced MMA fighter and should look to mix it up with takedowns. If he can convince Cong that he’s in a striking battle, he can catch the Chinese fighter off guard with a sudden level change or a catch.
Given Cong’s wealth of Sanda and kickboxing experience, it should come as no surprise that he wins fights with his feet. Cong attacks herself well, but is probably the bigger hitter of the two women and definitely makes her shots land less.
It’s not a bad stylistic matchup with Cong, who might struggle more with an elite wrestling specialist like Erin Blanchfield. He should feel very comfortable against his fellow striker, despite the rise in competition.
Against Silva, the primary goal should be to take the taekwondo ace’s punches away. Fortunately, both kickboxing and Sanda should be very ready for this goal! I’d love to see Cong use the classic Sanda tactic of catching kicks and landing them to punish Silva for constantly hitting. Additionally, Cong should look to miss the side kick and then chop at the thigh, which will limit Silva’s stride bounce over time.
Between the two, Cong wants to fight more in the pocket, while Silva wants to fight from a wide range. Cong should look for pressure and cut off the cage as this forces Silva to switch within Cong’s range. Cong should also try to hit the midsection often as Silva can be difficult to hit, so slowing his movement with the body will pay off.
Silva vs. Cong Prediction
This is clearly Cong’s best matchup in the top five flyweights. The way these two kicks and punches are likely to create a Sanda-style fight with a lot of side kicks, Cong is the Sanda World Champion! He can match Silva’s striking skills and still has a clear advantage in boxing form and overall strength. Silva’s speed is a concern, but Cong’s commitment to body shots and low kicks should wear off that edge before too long.
Cong gets him Alex Pereira moment and sets up a future showdown Valentina Shevchenko sometime next year.