By Field Level Media
Oct 02 (Field Level Media) – Saturday night’s UFC 332 puts the women’s flyweight title on the line as Brazil’s Natalia Silva faces China’s Wang Cong for the vacant women’s 125-pound belt in the main event at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The five-fight main card begins at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+ and will crown a new champion after Valentina Shevchenko was forced to vacate the title due to an injury. The lineup also includes a pivotal bantamweight clash between former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and rising contender Payton Talbott, plus three matchups showcasing veteran experience, knockout power, and emerging talent.
The event marks the first time in UFC history that an entire numbered-event main card will air on broadcast television.
Silva (20-5-1 MMA) enters the first title fight of her UFC career on a 14-fight winning streak, including an unbeaten 8-0 run in the Octagon. She has bolstered her title case with consecutive wins over former champions Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso and Rose Namajunas. Quick footwork, angle changes, and a varied kicking attack have set her apart from the division’s other leading contenders.
Now she must turn that momentum into undisputed gold, controlling the range against one of the most decorated strikers she has faced.
“I’m so happy to be here. I’m living the dream … I do it with all the joy in the world,” Silva said.
Meanwhile, Wang (10-1 MMA) brings a combat-sports resume that extends well beyond her professional MMA record. The former world Sanda champion and world boxing silver medalist has won four straight, most recently outpointing Tracy Cortez. She poses a direct threat when she takes the center of the cage and builds pressure with fast, powerful combinations.
Wang brought extra promotional flair to Wednesday’s media day when she attempted to hand Silva a note, explaining that both fighters need to elevate the moment.
“We need to bring the money to the show. We need to make people hype. She should (get close to me and) do that,” Wang said.
While Wang acknowledged that Silva is treating the title opportunity with full focus, she stressed that promotional energy is equally critical on this stage.
“Yes, I think she is very serious about this fight,” Wang said. “Same as me. I take this fight very serious, but I believe it’s my obligation to also sell the fight.”
The co-main event is a generational bantamweight test between former two-time UFC flyweight champion Figueiredo and surging prospect Talbott.
Figueiredo (25-7-1 MMA) returns after losing four of his last five fights, but remains dangerous thanks to fight-changing power, an opportunistic submission game, and championship experience. Against a taller, busier opponent, he will likely need to disrupt Talbott’s rhythm with counters, takedowns and clinch work before the younger fighter establishes his preferred pace.
Talbott (11-1 MMA), who has a five-inch height advantage, has regained momentum after an early 2025 loss with consecutive wins, including a victory over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. His layered striking and sustained output could force Figueiredo to work at a pace that has become increasingly difficult for the veteran to match.
Lightweight action follows, with King Green (36-17-1 MMA, 1 NC) facing Argentina’s Esteban Ribovics (16-3 MMA). The matchup pits Green’s timing and veteran savvy against Ribovics’ youth and forward pressure.
Green has long frustrated opponents with his low-handed stance, sharp jab and ability to counter while slipping just outside their return fire. Ribovics, by contrast, is most effective when he can extend exchanges, attack the body and legs, and force opponents to reset under sustained volume. The key question is whether Green’s accuracy can punish Ribovics’ entries before the younger fighter turns the bout into a pace test.
Welterweight fireworks are also on the main card, as former two-division KSW champion Roberto Soldic makes his UFC debut against established knockout threat Khaos Williams.
Soldic (21-4 MMA) brings compact southpaw pressure and finishing power to the head and body. Williams (16-5 MMA), meanwhile, has an explosive right hand that can erase a tactical advantage in a single exchange. The fight may hinge on who controls the lead-foot battle and lands the first clean counter: Soldic is likely to press forward, while Williams looks for room to explode.
Rounding out the five-fight main card, fast-rising middleweight finisher Ateba Gautier (11-1 MMA) takes the biggest step up of his career against seasoned southpaw Roman Kopylov (15-5 MMA).
Gautier’s explosiveness and early pressure have made him one of the division’s most intriguing emerging threats, but Kopylov offers a composed test built on distance management, body attacks, and veteran timing. Gautier must cut off the cage without overextending, while Kopylov will look to take the fight beyond the prospect’s preferred bursts and punish rushed entries.
Below is the full UFC 332 main card bout order, which is subject to change.
Main Card:
— Natalia Silva (20-5-1) vs. Wang Cong (10-1), vacant UFC women’s flyweight title — Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1) vs. Payton Talbott (11-1), bantamweight — King Green (36-17-1, 1 NC) vs. Esteban Ribovics (16-3), lightweight — Roberto Soldic (21-4) vs. Khaos Williams (16-5), welterweight — Ateba Gautier (11-1) vs. Roman Kopylov (15-5), middleweight
(–Field Level Media)
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