Keep it warm for “Bullet.”
Natalia Silva finally won Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gold last night (Saturday, October 3, 2026) by defeating Wang Cong with a unanimous decision made in UFC 332main event from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It didn’t take long for the former queen of the division to issue a warning.
Valentina Shevchenko, who recently vacated the 125-pound title congratulated Silva on social media on his long-term injury before informing the new champion that he plans to regain the belt healthy.
“Well deserved, Natalia! Congratulations,” Shevchenko wrote on Twitter. “I’m glad to know that the UFC championship belt is now held by a worthy fighter like yourself. But don’t get too comfortable – stay warm, I’ll be coming for my belt soon!”
Shevchenko was originally scheduled to defend his title against Silva at UFC 332 before shoulder and back injuries forced him to pull out. Instead of keeping the division frozen during a long recovery, “Bullet” relinquished the championship and cleared the way for Silva and Wang for the undisputed belt.
Silva, however, does not plan to act as a placeholder champion until Shevchenko returns.
At the UFC 332 post-fight press conference (look here), the Brazilian made it clear that she is not sitting on the sidelines waiting for the former champion to recover. Silva plans to stay active and defend his newly won title against whoever the UFC puts in front of him.
This could make the potential showdown even greater. Shevchenko clearly believes the belt is still his, while Silva plans to build on his championship before the “Bullet” is ready to fire again.
Click for complete UFC 332 results, coverage and highlights HERE.
