UFC 332: Dana White's Flat Week Clouds Silva-Cong Build

UFC 332 arrives in Salt Lake City on Saturday with a vacant flyweight title fight between Natalia Silva and Wang Cong headlining a card that even UFC CEO Dana White seemed lukewarm about during fight week media appearances.

White's lack of enthusiasm, including apparent unfamiliarity with Wang Cong heading into her biggest fight, became its own storyline this week, overshadowing a main event that still carries real stakes: the winner leaves Salt Lake City as the new women's flyweight champion, filling a vacancy created by Valentina Shevchenko's extended absence from the division.

Why Is UFC 332 Getting a Lukewarm Build?

Promotional energy for UFC 332 has been noticeably quiet compared to recent pay-per-view-caliber cards, and White's own comments this week didn't help. Shevchenko, the division's longtime best, has loomed over every conversation about the vacant belt even though she isn't fighting, with questions about her future shadowing the build rather than lifting it.

That hasn't stopped Natalia Silva and Wang Cong from arriving with legitimate momentum. Silva has won four straight fights since dropping to 1-1 to start her UFC run, positioning her as the favorite heading into Saturday. Wang Cong brings dangerous striking and will look to spoil the moment on short notice relative to the hype machine most UFC title fights get.

Figueiredo Calls Out Van, Says Talbott Is an Easy Matchup

Former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo used fight week to call out Joshua Van while downplaying Saturday's co-main event, telling media that Payton Talbott represents one of the easier fights available in the flyweight division. It's the kind of comment that tends to get replayed back to a fighter if things go sideways, and Talbott, unbeaten and rising fast at bantamweight before this move, has extra incentive to make Figueiredo regret it.

The rest of the card includes King Green against Esteban Ribovics, a stylistic clash between a veteran counter-striker and an aggressive finisher looking to keep climbing the lightweight ladder.

Betting Angle

Sportsbooks have Natalia Silva favored over Wang Cong in the ballpark of -200, reflecting her four-fight win streak and the perception that her ground game and cardio give her the safer path across five rounds. Wang Cong sits as the live underdog on the strength of her power, the kind of fight where a slow build and low buzz can actually help bettors find value if the betting public overlooks her finishing ability.

In the co-main, Payton Talbott opened as a heavy favorite over Deiveson Figueiredo, and that number reflects both Talbott's momentum and a genuine skill and physical edge at 135 pounds. Figueiredo's comments calling Talbott an easy matchup read either as calculated gamesmanship from a former champion trying to bait a mistake, or a real sign he believes his power and experience travel up in weight. Bettors leaning toward Figueiredo are essentially betting on championship pedigree over recent form and physical scaling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is fighting for the vacant flyweight title at UFC 332?

Natalia Silva faces Wang Cong for the vacant women's flyweight title in the UFC 332 main event in Salt Lake City.

Why is the flyweight title vacant at UFC 332?

The title is vacant because longtime champion Valentina Shevchenko has been out of action, opening the door for Natalia Silva and Wang Cong to fight for the belt.

What did Deiveson Figueiredo say about Payton Talbott before UFC 332?

Deiveson Figueiredo said during fight week that Payton Talbott represents one of the easier fights in the flyweight division, a comment made ahead of their UFC 332 co-main event.