Natalia Silva claimed the vacant UFC women’s 125-pound title in Salt Lake City after five rounds of measured striking and control against Wang Cong. The victory secured Silva the gold belt and a spot inside the top five of the women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Silva impressed a panel of seven MMA analysts—Ben Fowlkes, Chuck Mindenhall, Shaheen Al-Shatti, Petesy Carroll, Drake Riggs, Eric Jackman, and Conner Burks—who use a weighted points system to rank fighters monthly. Their criteria require fighters to have competed within the past year or have a booked fight in that timeframe; retired fighters are ineligible.
With Silva’s title win, the women’s rankings tightened up at the top. Former two-time champion Valentina Shevchenko remains the number one woman pound-for-pound despite no longer holding the flyweight title. Silva’s success has put her within striking distance of a potential title defense against Shevchenko, who has not yet returned to competition but is still considered the division’s best by the panel.
Silva’s ascent reflects a shift in women’s MMA, where new challengers are pushing longstanding champions. The panel’s rankings are not UFC-exclusive, taking into account fighters across major promotions like PFL, RIZIN, ONE Championship, MVP, and Ki MMA when relevant. This approach ensures Silva’s rise is measured against global competition.
The men’s pound-for-pound list remains led by UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, followed by bantamweight champion Petr Yan and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. On the women’s side, Shevchenko holds firm at the top, with Silva entering the top five after her breakthrough performance.
Silva's win sets up a compelling narrative as she may soon face Shevchenko, who despite losing her flyweight title, commands respect as the best female fighter pound-for-pound. The UFC and the fighters have yet to confirm when or if that matchup will occur, but Silva’s victory has certainly put it on the agenda.
The panel’s monthly rankings reflect the current competitive landscape, with fighters needing recent activity to qualify. Silva’s title victory in Salt Lake City marks her as one of the most significant new entrants in the women’s division.
According to Yahoo Sports.
