Silva's Coach Calls Flyweight Bout Best Striking Matchup

Natalia Silva's coach expects her upcoming flyweight title fight to showcase the division's two best strikers.

Silva meets Cong Wang for the vacant UFC women's flyweight championship on Oct. 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The bout, which headlines UFC 332, materialized after Valentina Shevchenko pulled out with an injury and relinquished the belt.

Coach Costa Confident Despite Late Opponent Change

Coach Carlos Costa told Sherdog the camp had spent months preparing for Shevchenko before the switch to Wang, who entered the fight ranked No. 6. "We had been preparing for Valentina for months and doing a full technical study of the champion," Costa said. "When the UFC told us she was out of the fight, and it happened somewhat at the last minute, we completely changed the focus of our training."

Despite complaints about Wang headlining on short notice, Costa predicted the matchup would silence critics once the cage door closes. "In my opinion, Natalia and Cong are the two best strikers in the division," he said. "I'm sure that once these girls put on a show in the Octagon, the public's perception will change dramatically."

Silva carries a 20-5-1 record and remains unbeaten through her UFC run, with 14 straight wins overall. Wang enters at 10-1 with four consecutive victories, most recently a decision over Tracy Cortez.

The Brazilian camp shifted gears from defending Shevchenko's takedowns to matching Wang's stand-up game. Costa declined to predict a specific round but said the win would come regardless. "Natalia is ready to become the first Brazilian female champion at 125 pounds," he said.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Natalia Silva’s coach makes bold claim about UFC 332 title fight