Natalia Silva ascended to the pinnacle of the women's flyweight division, claiming the vacant championship with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Wang Cong at UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang. The event, held in Salt Lake City, proved to be an explosive night of action, setting new records for first-round finishes and total knockouts in modern UFC history, as a cascade of stoppages lit up the Delta Center.
Natalia Silva Claims Vacant Flyweight Gold
The highly anticipated main event saw Natalia Silva defeat Wang Cong by unanimous decision, with scorecards reading 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46. With Valentina Shevchenko having vacated the title due to injury, the stage was set for a new queen, and Silva, the top-ranked challenger, seized the opportunity. She entered the bout as a betting favorite, facing the eighth-ranked Wang Cong, who had previously defeated Shevchenko in a kickboxing contest years prior.
Silva established an early lead, utilizing her varied striking and superior movement to frustrate Wang Cong through the initial two rounds. While Wang mounted a late surge, finding some success in the championship rounds and pressing forward aggressively in the fifth, she was ultimately unable to bridge the gap on the judges' scorecards. Silva's impressive performance extended her UFC winning streak to nine, solidifying her reign atop the 125-pound division.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the Brazilian, who had been preparing for a title shot against Shevchenko before the former champion's withdrawal. Silva's adaptability and consistent pressure proved key in navigating the strategic shift and securing the most important win of her career.
Johnny Walker Makes Explosive Heavyweight Debut
Johnny Walker made a memorable entrance into the heavyweight division, dispatching Mick Parkin by knockout in the first round at three minutes and thirty-five seconds. Walker, who was favored at 52% against Parkin's 1.1-to-1 underdog odds, improved his record to 9-7-0, while Parkin fell to 4-2-0. Walker opened the action with outside leg kicks before engaging in a clinch. He landed an elbow, followed by a jumping knee, and then a second powerful knee that pulled Parkin in, sending him to the canvas unconscious. His emphatic performance earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.
Hernandez Stops Former Champion Dos Anjos
Alexander Hernandez delivered a significant victory, defeating former lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos by knockout with punches in the second round at three minutes and twelve seconds. Hernandez was a strong favorite at 71% against Dos Anjos, who was a 2.4-to-1 underdog. Dos Anjos, returning from a nearly two-year layoff and multiple knee surgeries, pressed forward in the first round, landing a hook to the body. However, Hernandez found his rhythm in the second, dropping Dos Anjos with a stiff jab early. As Dos Anjos attempted to regain his footing, Hernandez connected with a right hook that he did not see, leading to the TKO stoppage. Following the bout, Dos Anjos was observed removing his gloves, hinting at a potential retirement from the sport.
McGhee Finishes Romero in First Round
Marcus McGhee continued his impressive run, securing a first-round knockout victory with punches against UFC newcomer Anthony Romero at four minutes and fifty-eight seconds. McGhee was a heavy favorite at 82% against the 4.6-to-1 underdog Romero, who was making his promotional debut on short notice. McGhee, now 6-1-0, was sharper from the outset, landing effective kicks. While Romero managed to land a left hand and a solid right, McGhee responded with a jab that dropped him. After allowing Romero to stand, McGhee landed a clean one-two combination that sent him stumbling, before swarming with further strikes to secure the finish just before the bell.
The undercard also delivered a series of decisive finishes and notable performances. Eric Nolan earned his first UFC victory, defeating veteran Court McGee by knockout with a punch in the third round at three minutes and twenty-six seconds. McGee, competing in his retirement fight, was dropped by an elbow at the end of the first round and ultimately succumbed to Nolan's powerful overhand right and follow-up elbows in the third. Ismail Naurdiev secured a unanimous decision victory over Marvin Vettori after three rounds. Despite Naurdiev landing a significant right hand that briefly rocked Vettori in the second, the decision was met with some controversy, as many fans felt Vettori had done enough to win, extending his losing streak to five fights. Anthony Wint made quick work of Lucas Armand, securing a first-round knockout with punches just twenty-three seconds into their heavyweight clash, proclaiming himself a top prospect post-fight. Rounding out the early stoppages, Jacobe Smith defeated Bruce Whitehead by knockout with punches in the first round at one minute and thirty-two seconds. The fight saw controversy when Smith landed an accidental low blow, but after Whitehead chose to continue, Smith capitalized by slamming him to the ground and finishing with ground-and-pound. UFC 332 was truly a night of knockouts, with the card setting new records for finishes across the board.
UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang — full results
| Winner | Defeated | How |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Walker | Mick Parkin | KO/TKO R1 |
| Alexander Hernandez | Rafael Dos… | KO/TKO R2 |
| Marcus McGhee | Anthony Romero | KO/TKO R1 |
| Eric Nolan | Court McGee | KO/TKO R3 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | Marvin Vettori | Decision |
| Anthony Wint | Lucas Armand | KO/TKO R1 |
| Jacobe Smith | Bruce Whitehead | KO/TKO R1 |
Results from UFC Stats; odds quoted in the article are the closing Polymarket prices before the card.
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