Natalia Silva is set to fight this Saturday at UFC Vegas 85 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. She will be taking on Viviane Araujo in a ranked bout that could push one of them closer to Flyweight Championship contention. On the surface, Natalia Silva is the favorite to win and there’s good reason for that.
Is Natalia Silva Next Up?
With a record of 12-5-1, Natalia Silva has never lost in her UFC career. In fact, the last time Silva lost was in 2017 under the Thunder Fight banner as a rookie. The last time she was finished, which was by submission, was in 2015 in RFC Caratinga. Natalia Silva started her career in 2015 and had a slippery start.
Some wins, some losses, but there was definitely potential. When she was winning, she was knocking her opponents out. Then, following her last loss in 2017, Silva started to show the world that not only does she have knockout power, but she can submit her opponents as well. Silva went on a six-fight win streak from 2018-2019 winning all by submission. Then, after a nearly three-year break from the MMA game, Natalia made her return in 2022 on the big stage of UFC.
Coming into the UFC can be nerve-wracking for a debuting fighter. Especially when you’re up against a game opponent like Jasmine Jasudavicius. Yet, Silva passed that test and picked up her debut win in the UFC. Suddenly, before our eyes, she started to ramp things up. A spinning back kick TKO in her second bout of 2022, a head kick TKO in her first bout of 2023 and a unanimous decision later that year, Natalia Silva was suddenly on a 10 fight win streak in her career and a 4 fight win streak inside of the UFC.
Natalia Silva Next Fight On Saturday At UFC Fight Night 235
Not only that, Natalia Silva started to climb the ranks of the UFC Flyweight Division and at this time, she’s ranked #9, heading into her toughest test yet against #7, Viviane Araujo. At a -340 favorite, Natalia Silva is the biggest betting favorite on the entire card at the moment and for good reason. She’s shown she has knockout power and she’s shown that if needed, she can get it done on the mat as well with a stellar submission game.
If Silva were to get yet another win this Saturday night, she would boost up the rankings into at least top 7, and inch closer to a championship fight. Though, questions loom if she’s ready for the big time with names like Jessica Andrade, Erin Blanchfield and even Valentina Shevchenko ranked ahead of her. With only four fights into her UFC career, is Natalia Silva ready for those potential tough battles, including the champion; Alexa Grasso?
Well, truly only time will tell. But, I’d like to believe she is. UFC is constantly looking for new stars, especially in their select women’s divisions. Someone who can come in, dominate and get the fans on their side. In each division, there’s a few select women who I believe could be the next big challenger for the titles.
In the Women’s Bantamweight Division, Irene Aldana is a fighter I look at and believe could be next up. In the Strawweight division, Amanda Ribas is a fighter inching closer to stardom. In the Flyweight division though, Natalia Silva could be that next top star. Plus, having a country like Brazil behind you doesn’t hurt either, we know how hard they go for their countrymen and women.
With a streak of 10 wins, 5 wins by knockout, 7 wins by submission, Silva is quickly proving that she very well may be one of the most well-rounded womens fighters in the Flyweight division. And I expect nothing short of a big win this weekend. Looking forward, if and when she gets the win this Saturday, which also happens to be her birthday, surely maybe one or two more fights before she gets a championship shot and when she does, she’ll be named the new Queen of the UFC Flyweight Division. Natalia Silva is a dog and she’s all bite!
UFC Vegas 85 is this Saturday, February 3, 2024 on ESPN+. The prelims kick off at 4PM ET and the main card will start at 7PM ET, you won’t want to miss it!
From: Brady Alexander
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