Natalia Silva beat former flyweight champion Alexa Grasso simply hours earlier than Valentina Shevchenko defended the 125-pound belt in opposition to Manon Fiorot at UFC 315, and hopes to be subsequent in line for the title.
Silva prolonged her general profitable streak to 13 together with her seventh victory contained in the octagon, and feels she’s executed sufficient to safe a championship probability.
“My focus is on the title,” Silva mentioned post-fight, earlier than Shevchenko beat Fiorot in Montreal. “I got here right here to grow to be champion, my eyes are on the title. I’ve a story in opposition to both one of many two. Valentina as soon as mentioned she didn’t know me, and I feel it’s about time she is aware of me.”
The 28-year-old prospect has now crushed two ex-UFC champions in a row, topping Jessica Andrade and Grasso in a span of eight months, and mentioned that followers might help her earn the shot by rallying for her on social media.
“I feel followers can ask for that as a result of it’s a combat that is sensible for me,” Silva mentioned. “It’s the combat I need. Each time the UFC presents me a reputation I say, ‘Let’s go, I’m prepared.’ The UFC is aware of that. They see I’ve the potential to grow to be champion. I say that ever since I got here right here to the UFC, I got here right here to grow to be champion. And never simply one other champion, I wish to depart a legacy, I need individuals to know my story.”
Shevchenko was requested about that potential combat after UFC 315, on whether or not she ought to face Silva or reigning UFC strawweight queen Zhang Weili subsequent, and mentioned she leaves the choice to the followers.
“Everybody was saying Weili or Natalia?” Shevchenko mentioned. “So I don’t know, perhaps followers will pay some function in that and if they will be a part of my OnlyFans web page and drop some messages who they wish to see me combat subsequent, we’ll evaluate who’s subsequent.”
