UFC 332 in Salt Lake City delivered a record-breaking card, setting a UFC mark with 11 knockouts, including nine in the first round. The standout performance came from Payton Talbott, who dominated the co-main event by sending former champion Deiveson Figueiredo to the canvas twice before finishing him just over two minutes in. Talbott's second consecutive win over a former champion signals a bright future in the men's bantamweight division.
In the main event, Natalia Silva captured her first UFC championship with a unanimous decision over Wang Cong. Despite pre-fight skepticism about the matchup — particularly Wang's unranked status and lack of top-10 flyweight experience — Silva proved too fast, too elusive, and too precise, leaving Wang with no answers until the final round. The 29-year-old joins men's flyweight Joshua Van as one of the few UFC champions under 30.
The UFC's matchmaking drew criticism, though the promotion aimed to set up a potential rivalry with Valentina Shevchenko, who vacated the title due to injury. While the Shevchenko angle was shelved after Silva's dominant win, the women's flyweight division now looks poised for a future Silva vs. Shevchenko showdown once she returns from her up to one-year layoff.
Notably, Silva did not mention Shevchenko in her postfight interview, a UFC decision that drew further scrutiny.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing