China’s Wang Cong enters her first UFC title fight this Saturday, headlining UFC 332 against Natalia Silva and competing for the belt recently vacated by Valentina Shevchenko.
The main event has been heavily criticized due to the lack of star power involved, though Wang (10-1) holds a win over Shevchenko from the pair’s kickboxing days.
That was over a decade ago now, with Shevchenko joining the UFC and converting to MMA full time in her very next fight. Cong herself made the jump to MMA in 2023, and has had a quick rise. She’s 5-1 in the promotion, and coming off a victory over Tracy Cortez.
There’s no surprise in that quick ascent, she explained during Wednesday’s UFC 332 media day. “It’s my team’s expectation. I don’t feel surprised,” Wang Cong stated via translator.
Nor is there any debate in her mind that herself and Silva are the best strikers in the women’s flyweight division. “Of course,” stated Wang, forgoing her translator.
Silva is notable for her use of side kicks, and Wang did admit that while “I’ve faced similar opponents when you talk about movement and quickness on the feet,” she added that “she will be the first opponent I have to rely that heavily on the kicks.”
As for critics of the match-up, “this fight is definitely going to be exciting,” stated Wang. “We will use our performance to shut them up.”
Shevchenko’s name has been brought up endlessly ahead of the fight, given the pair’s history, and “Bullet” having dropped the belt due to injury, paving the way for Wang to face Silva. The Chinese contender admitted that she’s been “hearing her name the whole time” this week, adding that she’s “probably going to have dreams about her.”
If she’s victorious this Saturday, she may also have a date with Shevchenko when the now ex-champ returns.
Watch the full UFC 332 media day appearance by Wang Cong above.