Natalia Silva has secured an impressive 12 consecutive victories since 2018, with half of those coming under the bright lights of the UFC. She feels that a shot at the title could be within reach if she defeats former flyweight champion Alexa Grasso on May 10 in Montreal, Canada.
Silva is widely regarded as one of the most exciting prospects on the UFC roster, having achieved significant wins against notable fighters such as former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade and Jasmine Jasudavicius within the octagon. She believes a victory over Grasso could set up a future bout with the winner of the UFC 315 co-main event between reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot.
While Silva views Fiorot as potentially the most challenging opponent for Shevchenko in the division, she still favors “Bullet” to emerge victorious at UFC 315. Silva envisions a scenario where she could be next in line for a title opportunity following her upcoming fight.
Addressing the possibility of a title challenge, Silva stated, “It could happen, but it`s not something I`m focusing on at the moment because my attention must be on Alexa. How can I even think about what comes next if I haven`t fought Alexa yet? You know, it`s one step at a time. After I have the fight with Alexa and secure the win – in Jesus` name, amen – then we`ll consider other things. But that`s truly not the priority right now. Alexa Grasso is the focus. She is the challenge I need to overcome now.”
Following her most recent performance in September, a victory over former 115-pound titleholder Jessica Andrade that earned a $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus in Las Vegas, Silva signed a new contract with the UFC. She expressed being “very happy” with the new agreement, seeing it as bringing her closer to her ultimate ambition.
Speaking about her goal of becoming champion, Silva said, “I`ve thought about that ever since I entered the UFC. I`ve always stated that I am here in the UFC to become champion, and that goal remains unchanged. I still have that determination, that aim of being champion. I feel prepared for it, but right now I need to climb this next step to move closer to that dream. I`ve always felt ready, but it`s about taking it one step at a time.”
The transition from fighting at the smaller UFC APEX venue to Montreal`s Centre Bell means performing before a larger live audience and adapting from the smaller Octagon size to the standard dimensions. Silva believes this larger fighting area will benefit her style. Furthermore, she noted that studying Grasso`s two previous bouts against Shevchenko, which accumulated nearly 70 minutes of cage time over an 18-month period, has provided valuable insights and strategic ideas.
“There`s a wealth of material to analyze,” Silva explained. “We`ve observed her strengths and her areas that aren`t as strong, and we will work based on that. When a fighter reaches such a high level and competes against so many skilled and experienced opponents, the winner is often the one who minimizes mistakes and capitalizes on opportunities. That is the objective. When she makes an error, I will seize that advantage – and simultaneously strive to make fewer mistakes myself. I believe that is the path to victory.”
Marcus Blakely