LAS VEGAS – Natalia Silva has been ready for her shot at UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Silva’s title hopes were delayed when Zhang Weili vacated her strawweight title to challenge Shevchenko (26-4-1 MMA, 15-3-1 UFC) at UFC 322 this past November. She wound up suffering a lopsided decision loss.
In the meantime, opportunity called for Silva (19-5-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) who stepped in for Alexa Grasso against former champion Rose Namajunas (14-7 MMA, 12-6 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 324 main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+).
“I wanted to get a shot at the title before, but the UFC said Valentina was not going to be available to fight so soon. So they offered Rose’s name and we accepted it,” Silva told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at a UFC 324 pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “I’m the person that had done the most in the organization and the person that was ready for this was me.”
The 28-year-old is confident a win over Namajunas finally gets her a title shot.
“A win against Rose already gives me the credentials to actually fight for the title,” Silva said. “The UFC has said that this is an elimination fight and that the next one will be for the title.”
Shevchenko’s only setback during her dominant flyweight reign has come against Alexa Grasso, a loss she avenged in definitive fashion at UFC 306. She has since defended her belt against Manon Fiorot and Weili. But regardless of Shevchenko’s accolades and recent dominance on the ground, Brazil’s Silva says she has the answer.
“Valentina is not going to beat me, and I’m going to be a champion and beat her,” Silva said. “I worked every day in every single area possible. Whether it’s going to be striking or grappling, I’m going to beat her and I’m going to be a champion.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Natalia Silva confident she beats Valentina Shevchenko everywhere
