Dana White Botches Wang Cong's Resume Before UFC 332
Dana White misstated Wang Cong's UFC record before her UFC 332 title fight with Natalia Silva, crediting her with wins that belong to Silva.
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UFC CEO Dana White credited Wang Cong with three wins that belong to her opponent while trying to explain why she deserves a title shot at UFC 332.
Cong steps in for the injured Valentina Shevchenko, who vacated the women's flyweight title after a shoulder injury, and faces Natalia Silva for the vacant belt on October 3 in Salt Lake City. Asked to justify the matchup, White rattled off a list of names he claimed Cong had beaten.
"Rankings are well... If you look at what she's done in her body of work," White said. "She's 10-1. I was just saying, she beat Rose Namajunas, she beat [Jessica] Andrade, she beat [Alexa] Grasso. And, she beat Valentina Shevchenko in a kickboxing match."
Every one of those wins over Namajunas, Andrade and Grasso actually belongs to Silva, who carries a 14-fight win streak into the title fight built on exactly those names. Cong is genuinely 10-1 as a pro, with her real notable wins coming against Tracy Cortez and Ariane de Silva, a solid resume but nowhere close to what White described.
Did Dana White Clean Up the Mistake?
White did not repeat the same error at Thursday's press conference, but he also didn't offer much in its place. Asked again why Cong earned the shot, he gave a vague answer: "We're always trying to find out who the best is. That's what we care about. In making this fight, Wang was the decision we made. Natalia obviously on a 14-fight win streak, we'll see."
The fumble matters because selling a vacant title fight between two non-superstars already requires the promotion to do some heavy lifting, and the company's top executive struggling to accurately describe his own headliner's resume doesn't help build interest in a card that was already facing a tough sell after Shevchenko's withdrawal.
Betting Angle
Sportsbooks have Silva as a moderate favorite, with lines around -205 for Silva and +170 for Cong as of this week. The number reflects Silva's momentum and her wins over established names like Andrade and Grasso, not anything resembling the resume White described. Cong's path runs through volume striking and durability rather than name recognition, and bettors leaning live underdog value should know her real wins came against Cortez and de Silva, a step below the level White implied. The gap between the hype and the actual numbers is worth factoring in if the line moves closer to fight week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Dana White get wrong about Wang Cong?
Dana White said Wang Cong had beaten Rose Namajunas, Jessica Andrade and Alexa Grasso, but those wins actually belong to her UFC 332 opponent, Natalia Silva, not Cong.
Who is Wang Cong fighting at UFC 332?
Wang Cong faces Natalia Silva for the vacant UFC women's flyweight title at UFC 332 on October 3 in Salt Lake City, after Valentina Shevchenko vacated the belt due to a shoulder injury.
Who is favored in Natalia Silva vs Wang Cong?
Sportsbooks have listed Natalia Silva as a moderate favorite over Wang Cong for their UFC 332 flyweight title fight, with Silva priced around -205 and Cong around +170.
