Natalia Silva secured a victory over former flyweight queen Alexa Grasso shortly before Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her 125-pound championship against Manon Fiorot at UFC 315. Now, Silva is setting her sights on challenging for the title.
This win marked Silva`s 13th consecutive victory overall and her seventh straight inside the Octagon, strengthening her belief that she has earned a shot at the championship.
“My goal is the title,” Silva stated in her post-fight interview, held before Shevchenko`s win over Fiorot in Montreal. “I came to become champion, the title is what I`m focused on. I have a compelling reason to fight either opponent. Valentina once mentioned she wasn`t familiar with me, and I believe it`s high time she got acquainted.”
The 28-year-old contender has now defeated two former UFC champions consecutively, taking down Jessica Andrade and Alexa Grasso within an eight-month period. She suggested that fan support on social media could help solidify her title opportunity.
“I think the fans requesting this fight would make sense because it`s the matchup I desire,” Silva commented. “Whenever the UFC presents an opponent, I immediately agree, `Let`s do it, I`m prepared.` The UFC is aware of this. They recognize my potential to become champion. From the moment I arrived in the UFC, I`ve stated my intention to win the belt. I don`t just want to be another champion; I want to build a lasting legacy and have my story known.”
Following UFC 315, Shevchenko was questioned about her next potential opponent, specifically whether it should be Silva or the current UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili. She responded by saying she would leave the choice to the fans.
“Everyone was asking about Weili or Natalia?” Shevchenko remarked. “So, I`m not sure, perhaps fans can play a role. If they join my OnlyFans page and leave messages about who they want to see me fight next, we can gauge the preference.”
Marcus Blakely