Natalia Silva defeated Wang Cong by unanimous decision at UFC 332 to claim the vacant women’s flyweight title. The five-round main event capped a card that produced 11 knockouts at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The headliner drew criticism before the event, but the undercard delivered plenty of action. Payton Talbott stopped Deiveson Figueiredo in the first round, Johnny Walker made a successful heavyweight debut, and several prospects added quick finishes to their records.
UFC 332 Quick Results
- Natalia Silva defeated Wang Cong by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to win the vacant women’s flyweight title.
- Payton Talbott defeated Deiveson Figueiredo by TKO at 2:09 of Round 1.
- Esteban Ribovics defeated King Green by TKO at 4:08 of Round 1.
- Roberto Soldic defeated Khaos Williams by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27).
- Roman Kopylov defeated Ateba Gautier by TKO at 3:12 of Round 1.
The event drew an announced attendance of 16,492, with a gate of $2,707,768.
Natalia Silva Defeats Wang Cong for the Vacant Flyweight Title
After a night filled with quick finishes, Silva and Wang Cong went the distance. The crowd booed at points, but Silva’s approach gave her the advantage she needed to leave with the belt.
Silva used her speed and movement to build an early lead. Her biggest moment came in the second round, when she dropped Wang with a head kick. Some reports described a second knockdown in Round 3, although the official fight statistics credited Silva with one.
Wang became more competitive in the middle rounds and landed heavier shots in the fifth. Those late exchanges were not enough to overcome Silva’s earlier work. Two judges scored the fight 48-47, while the third had it 49-46.
Silva Earned Her Place at the Top
Silva’s path to the title included wins over former champions Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso, and Rose Namajunas. That résumé gave her a strong claim to a championship opportunity, regardless of the criticism surrounding this matchup.
The original expectation was a title fight against Valentina Shevchenko. Instead, Shevchenko vacated the belt following back and shoulder injuries expected to keep her out for at least a year.
Silva’s win moved her record to 21-5-1, extended her winning streak to 15 fights, and kept her unbeaten in the UFC at 9-0.
At 29, she now has the opportunity to build a championship run. A rematch with Grasso looks like a natural next step, while a future meeting with Shevchenko remains the division’s biggest storyline.
Payton Talbott Stops Deiveson Figueiredo in the First Round
Payton Talbott needed just over two minutes to finish former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
Talbott overwhelmed Figueiredo with punches, forcing the referee to stop the fight at 2:09 of Round 1. Returning after 10 months away, he showed little sign of rust.
Afterward, Talbott said he had expected Figueiredo to be more durable. The result reinforced his reputation as a fighter who looks for the finish rather than settling into a prolonged exchange.
What This Win Means for Talbott
Figueiredo remains a recognizable name with championship experience, making this a meaningful win for Talbott.
Bantamweight is a crowded division, and one performance does not guarantee a title shot. Still, another win over a ranked opponent could move Talbott firmly into the contender conversation.
UFC 332 Main Card Highlights
Esteban Ribovics Overwhelms King Green
Esteban Ribovics dropped King Green three times before securing a TKO at 4:08 of Round 1.
Green has frustrated plenty of opponents with his timing and experience, but Ribovics gave him little opportunity to settle into the fight. It was one of the most decisive performances on the main card.
Roberto Soldic Wins His UFC Debut
Roberto Soldic defeated Khaos Williams by unanimous decision, with scores of 29-28, 29-27, and 29-27.
Williams landed dangerous shots early, but Soldic used his wrestling and broader skill set to gain control of the fight.
The former two-division KSW champion arrived with considerable expectations. His debut did not produce the explosive finish some fans anticipated, but it gave him a successful start in the UFC’s welterweight division.
Roman Kopylov Finishes Ateba Gautier
Roman Kopylov stopped Ateba Gautier at 3:12 of Round 1, hurting him with a straight left before finishing with hammerfists.
Gautier entered with momentum, but Kopylov’s accuracy changed the fight quickly. The upset earned Kopylov a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
UFC 332 Preliminary Card Highlights
Johnny Walker Makes a Successful Heavyweight Debut
Johnny Walker knocked out Mick Parkin with a knee at 3:35 of Round 1.
Walker secured a Thai clinch and drove the knee into Parkin’s jaw, ending his heavyweight debut with one of the night’s most memorable finishes.
The performance earned Walker a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus. One win does not establish him as a contender, but it gives his move to heavyweight an intriguing start.
Damian Pinas Finishes Andrey Pulyaev in 75 Seconds
Damian Pinas knocked out Andrey Pulyaev with a right uppercut at 1:15 of Round 1.
Dana White said afterward that Pulyaev suffered a broken jaw. Pinas, 24, called for a top-10 opponent following his third consecutive first-round finish in the UFC.
He also received a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Imanol Rodriguez Remains Unbeaten
Imanol Rodriguez improved to 8-0 after stopping Alden Coria at 3:11 of Round 1.
A front kick to the body created the opening for the finish, which was officially recorded as a TKO by body kick and punches.
Rodriguez received the fourth $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Other Preliminary Card Results
- Marcus McGhee stopped Anthony Romero by TKO at 4:58 of Round 1. Romero replaced the injured Bernardo Sopaj on three days’ notice.
- Anthony Wint finished Lucas Armand by TKO in just 23 seconds.
- Jacobe Smith knocked out Bruce Whitehead at 1:32 of Round 1.
- Alexander Hernandez stopped Rafael dos Anjos by TKO at 3:12 of Round 2.
- Ismail Naurdiev defeated Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28.
- Eric Nolan knocked out Court McGee at 3:26 of Round 3.
Full UFC 332 Results
| Fight | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalia Silva def. Wang Cong | Unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) | 5 | 5:00 |
| Payton Talbott def. Deiveson Figueiredo | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:09 |
| Esteban Ribovics def. King Green | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:08 |
| Roberto Soldic def. Khaos Williams | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 29-27) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Roman Kopylov def. Ateba Gautier | TKO (punches) | 1 | 3:12 |
| Imanol Rodriguez def. Alden Coria | TKO (body kick and punches) | 1 | 3:11 |
| Damian Pinas def. Andrey Pulyaev | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:15 |
| Marcus McGhee def. Anthony Romero | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:58 |
| Anthony Wint def. Lucas Armand | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:23 |
| Johnny Walker def. Mick Parkin | KO (knee) | 1 | 3:35 |
| Jacobe Smith def. Bruce Whitehead | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:32 |
| Alexander Hernandez def. Rafael dos Anjos | TKO (punches) | 2 | 3:12 |
| Ismail Naurdiev def. Marvin Vettori | Unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Eric Nolan def. Court McGee | KO (punch) | 3 | 3:26 |
UFC 332 Bonuses
No Fight of the Night bonus was awarded. Instead, four fighters received $100,000 Performance of the Night bonuses:
- Johnny Walker
- Damian Pinas
- Imanol Rodriguez
- Roman Kopylov
Seven additional fighters received $25,000 finish bonuses:
- Payton Talbott
- Esteban Ribovics
- Marcus McGhee
- Anthony Wint
- Jacobe Smith
- Alexander Hernandez
- Eric Nolan
That brought the listed bonus payouts to $575,000.
A Big Night for Fighters Who Found the Finish
The UFC’s increased bonus amounts gave these performances a substantial financial reward.
For the fighters who earned them, those payouts added to the significance of an already successful night. The volume of finishes also gave the promotion plenty of highlights to carry into its next events.
The Records Set at UFC 332
UFC 332 produced several notable finishing records:
- 11 knockouts, the most at a single UFC event.
- Nine first-round knockouts, a modern UFC record.
- Seven consecutive first-round knockouts during the event’s finishing streak.
- Eight consecutive knockouts overall in the modern era.
The previous single-event knockout record belonged to UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho.
While the main event went the distance, the card as a whole delivered an unusually high number of finishes.
What’s Next After UFC 332?
Natalia Silva: A Possible Rematch With Alexa Grasso
Silva said she wants to be an active champion. With Shevchenko sidelined, Grasso appears to be the leading option following her win over Manon Fiorot at Noche UFC.
A second meeting between Silva and Grasso would carry different stakes with the title on the line. Shevchenko’s eventual return remains another major possibility.
Payton Talbott: Another Ranked Opponent
Talbott’s finish of Figueiredo should put him in position for another meaningful bantamweight matchup.
A win over an established contender would help show whether he is ready to challenge the division’s best.
Johnny Walker: Building Momentum at Heavyweight
Walker’s debut offered a promising first look at him in a new division.
The next challenge is consistency. Another strong performance would give a clearer picture of where he fits among the UFC’s heavyweights.
Damian Pinas: A Step Up in Competition
Pinas asked for a top-10 middleweight after his latest quick finish.
Whether he gets that opponent immediately or takes an intermediate step, his recent performances make a tougher matchup the logical next move.
Marvin Vettori: Pressure to Respond
Vettori’s loss to Naurdiev leaves the former title challenger needing a strong response.
His experience still makes him a difficult matchup, but his next fight will be important if he wants to work his way back toward contention.
