Natalia Silva was able to outstrike Wang Cong for much of their main event fight tonight at UFC 332 to win by unanimous decision and claim the vacant flyweight title.
Round One
The main event women’s flyweight title fight is underway in Salt Lake City!
Body kick for Silva. Jab for Cong. Low kick from Silva. Cautious start from both fighters, but then they both land a punch.
There’s an exchange at close quarters now and Silva got the better of that. Left hook for Silva as Cong stepped in to attack.
Push kick from Silva. Now a quick jab as she continues to time Cong’s entries nicely.
Frenzied exchange of kicks and punches, then Silva catches a kick and uses it to take Cong to the mat.
Cong able to get back up and Silva presses her into the cage. She has her back as Cong faces the cage. Cong able to turn into her though. Elbow for Silva. Cong then punches out of the clinch.
Good left hook from Cong, but Silva responds with a side kick upstairs.
Round Two
Low kick for Cong as Silva was attacking. Body kick for Cong.
Silva tries for a combination, landing a body kick, while Cong gets another low kick.
Low kick for Silva. Cong lands hers. Low kick for Cong. Silva with a flurry. She lands a high kick that drops Cong momentarily.
Silva working for a takedown now and lands it. She presses Cong uncomfortably into the cage from half-guard.
A few punches for Silva now and Cong is able to stand. She’s facing the cage again though as Silva clinches her back. Silva trying to drag her down and almost succeeds, but Cong stays upright and soon after breaks away.
Spinning kick from Silva just misses. Cong trying for a left hook. Silva with a jumping front kick that whiffs the target.
Round Three
Calf kick on one side from Silva and then a body kick on the other side. Another body kick lands. Cong goes for one of her own, but Silva catches her, drives to the cage and then unleashes a short flurry of punches before backing off.
Grazing punches for Silva. Side kick from Silva knocks Cong off-balance to the mat. Jab for Silva and a low kick for Cong.
Cong lands with a hook as Silva was going for a kick. Another punch for Cong gets through and Silva misses with a side kick.
Calf kick for Silva. Leg kick from her, but Cong’s counter punch gets through.
Hook kick upstairs from Silva, but Cong is threatening on the counter. Both land a punch at the same time.
Spinning kick from Silva misses. Calf kicks exchanged. Flurry of wild hooks exchanged without a clean connection. Cong initiates that again as the round draws to a close.
Round Four
Oblique kick from Silva. Now a calf kick. Front kick to the body. Brief clinch and a a knee from Silva.
Calf kick to the body kick on the other side from Silva. Left hook for Cong. Good right hand for Cong and then clinches up against the cage.
Silva gets out the clinch with a kick. Kick from Cong now. Grazing power punches from Cong. She clinches up against the cage again.
Silva able to reverse the position. She backs up and goes for a spinning back kick that doesn’t connect. Cong tries one of her own that also misses.
Silva clinches up while partially eating an elbow. She gets Cong over to the cage. Hooks for Silva and then lands a spinning kick. She tries it again and misses.
Left hook for Cong. Body kicks for Cong. Now a front kick to the body too.
Round Five
Calf kick for Silva. Now a left hook. One-two for her. Cong tries to get into range, but is greeted by quick punches.
Cong gets into the clinch against the cage. Cong needs a finish at this stage so can’t afford to stall from her for long.
Nice elbow inside from Silva as she gets away. Calf kick for her. Good left hand for Silva. Cong pressuring and Silva lands a push kick.
More forward pressure from Cong and lands a couple of punches. Cong clinching up against the cage again.
Knee to the body from Cong, but then Silva gets away. A couple of left hands get through for Cong.
High kick from Silva. Push kick and then a left hook from Silva. Cong landing now. Cong punches into the clinch.
Final minute of the fight. Knee to the body from Cong. Elbow from Cong as they break.
Jab for Silva. Cong unleashes a barrage of left and rights. Silva gets away from another power punch. Check hook from Silva. Cong chasing her in the final seconds, but Silva steers clear.
Decision
A good performance from Silva here then, proving to be the faster and more active striker throughout the fight on her way to a unanimous decision victory (48-47 x2, 49-46).
