At UFC 315, Brazilian flyweight contender Natalia Silva secured a significant victory over former champion Alexa Grasso, just hours before Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her 125-pound belt against Manon Fiorot. Following her dominant performance, Silva wasted no time expressing her desire to be the next challenger for the championship.
This latest win extended Silva`s impressive overall winning streak to 13 consecutive fights, seven of which have come inside the UFC octagon. Based on her consistent success, she firmly believes she has earned the opportunity to compete for the title.
Speaking in a post-fight interview before Shevchenko`s bout, Silva declared, “My absolute focus is on the title. I arrived in the UFC with the clear goal of becoming champion, and that`s where my attention remains.” Referencing a past comment made by the champion, she added pointedly, “Valentina once said she didn`t know who I was, and I definitely think it`s about time she learns who I am after UFC 315.”
The 28-year-old rising star has now defeated two former UFC champions back-to-back, securing victories over Jessica Andrade and Alexa Grasso within a span of eight months. Silva suggested that fight fans could play a role in helping her secure the desired title shot by actively campaigning for her on social media platforms.
“I believe fans pushing for this fight makes perfect sense for my career,” Silva commented. “It`s the fight I truly want. Every single time the UFC has offered me an opponent, my answer is always `Let`s go, I`m ready.` The organization knows this about me. They can see I possess the potential to become a champion. I`ve stated since my very first day here that I came to claim the championship and not just be another titleholder, but to leave a lasting legacy and for people to remember my story.”
Valentina Shevchenko was later asked about potentially facing Silva after her UFC 315 defense, specifically whether she saw Silva or reigning strawweight queen Zhang Weili as the more likely next opponent. Shevchenko indicated she would leave the final decision partly up to fan opinion.
“Everyone was mentioning Weili or Natalia?” Shevchenko remarked. “So, I don`t know, perhaps the fans can influence that decision.” She then made a controversial suggestion about fan input.
