Natalia Silvas Options After UFC 332 Title Victory
With a unanimous decision win over Wang Cong in the main event of UFC 332, which took place on October 3 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Brazilian fighter Natalia Silva is the new UFC women’s flyweight champion.
Related: UFC 332 Predictions for Silva vs. Wang
Ever since she first entered the Octagon in 2022, fans and fight analysts have known that Silva was special.
Four years later, she is now the world champion at 125 lbs after capturing the title that former champion Valentina Shevchenko vacated last month due to ongoing injuries.
Now, with Silva as the champion, the division can move on after having been stalled for the past year with Shevchenko out.
So, what’s next for Silva? Let’s take a look at the potential options.
Alexa Grasso Rematch Makes the Most Sense for Natalia Silva
The fight that makes the most sense for Silva’s first UFC women’s flyweight title defense is a rematch against the former champion Alexa Grasso.
Silva previously beat Grasso at UFC 315 in May 2025 in a lopsided fight in the Brazilian’s favor, but the Mexican has looked outstanding since then, with back-to-back wins over Maycee Barber and Manon Fiorot in her last two outings to jump back into title contention at 125 lbs.
Per the Meta UFC Rankings, Grasso should be next in line, as she’s the highest-ranked contender currently available to fight.
The only thing that could get in the Mexican’s way is that her first fight against Silva didn’t take place all that long ago, which could hurt her title chances.
But most likely, this is the fight that’s going to happen next, and it should be a good one when it does happen, as Grasso has looked much improved since her first fight with Silva, which should lead to an excellent rematch between the two rivals.
Other Potential Opponents for Natalia Silva
Although Grasso makes the most sense right now because of her recent win streak and strong performances, the UFC could go with someone else if they don’t feel like booking a rematch between the two so soon after their last fight.
Erin Blanchfield, ranked No. 3 in the division, fights Jasmine Jasudavicius, the No. 7-ranked contender, later this month at UFC Edmonton.
Should Blanchfield win that fight, she could very well be next in line for a title shot against Silva, especially since she hasn’t fought the new champion yet, meaning it would be a fresh fight — and the UFC loves booking fresh fights whenever possible.
A dark horse option is Casey O’Neill, who is coming off the 2026 Submission of the Year in her last fight at UFC 331, a rarely seen helicopter armbar.
O’Neill, who is ranked No. 10 in the division, has won three straight fights, and if the UFC doesn’t go with Grasso or Blanchfield because they want to strike while the iron is hot following O’Neill’s amazing submission win last month, she’s an option.
Most likely, fans can look forward to a rematch between Silva and Grasso sometime in the first or second quarter of 2027, but it’s far from a lock.
Either way, it’s good to know that Silva is now the champion, and the weight class can start moving forward after Shevchenko held it for nearly a year without fighting.
This is an exciting division with tons of great fighters, and they will now have the opportunity to fight for the belt, with a new champion who is open and willing to step into the Octagon and fight.
Related: UFC Title Belts That Could Change Hands Before the Year Is Over
This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Oct 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Other Sports section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.