Natalia Silva did not let the message slide. A few days after winning the flyweight title at UFC 332, the Brazilian answered Valentina Shevchenko, who had told her to keep the belt warm until her return. Speaking to MMA Fighting, the new champion says the belt is hers, that Shevchenko fought only once a year and that she wants to defend her title quickly.
Key takeaways
- Natalia Silva answered Valentina Shevchenko in MMA Fighting: the flyweight belt no longer belongs to the former champion, she says.
- She criticizes Shevchenko for fighting only once a year and says she no longer has to think about her.
- Silva wants to fight again soon. No title defense has been announced, and Shevchenko is not expected back before 2027.
Natalia Silva is keeping the belt warm for no one
The original message
After Silva beat Wang Cong on October 3 in Salt Lake City, Valentina Shevchenko congratulated her, then warned her not to get too comfortable and to keep the belt warm. We reported that message on October 5.
The answer
Silva replies that the belt is not Shevchenko’s but hers, and that she will take good care of it. She adds that the former champion was not keeping it warm herself, since she would let a year go by between fights.
The tone
The Brazilian says she is not worried about Shevchenko anymore. She wanted to fight her because she was the champion. Now she holds the title and she is the one who has to defend it.
A champion who wants to stay active
What she is asking for
Silva says she wants to fight soon and does not want to sit around. She points out that she comes out of her fights without injuries and wants to take advantage of her youth.
Shevchenko, later
If Shevchenko wants to fight when she comes back and no other fight is lined up, the 2 women can meet, Silva says. She does not make it a condition.
The former champion’s status
Shevchenko, 38, gave up her title in early September through injury. Her return is expected in 2027, according to Yahoo Sports. She never lost that title in the cage.
The belt isn't hers, the belt is mine, and I'm going to take good care of it.
Who gets the 1st defense
The contenders
Yahoo Sports names Alexa Grasso as the No. 1 contender. Erin Blanchfield and Jasmine Jasudavicius meet on October 17 at UFC Edmonton, and the winner will enter the conversation.
What is not decided
The UFC has announced neither an opponent nor a date for Silva’s 1st defense. The champion is unbeaten in 9 fights in the promotion.
Follow the division
The profiles of Natalia Silva and her contenders, their records and our women’s flyweight rating are in the FightHub app.
- UFC women’s flyweight title: from Nicco Montaño to Valentina Shevchenko, the history of the belt Silva and Wang fight for
- Natalia Silva vs Wang Cong is being called the worst main event ever, and the numbers push back
- Alexa Grasso beats Manon Fiorot in Glendale and takes the title shot Fiorot had already claimed
- Jean Silva submits Jose Delgado with a one-armed choke at Noche UFC, then calls his shot at the belt
