Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong Is the First UFC Card Led by Women in 2026

The UFC has put on 415 fights this year. Saturday night in Salt Lake City, for the first time in 2026, two women will close the show.

Natalia Silva (20-5-1) and Wang Cong (10-1) meet for the vacant flyweight title in the main event of UFC 332. It's a rare spot. The last women's fight to headline any UFC card was Mackenzie Dern against Amanda Ribas in January 2025, and the last to top a numbered event was Amanda Nunes vs. Irene Aldana in June 2023.

Fewer fights, lower on the card

According to ESPN Research, 56 of those 415 bouts have featured women. That's 13%, the lowest share in 10 years. And the women who do fight are increasingly on the prelims: 83% of women's bouts this year, up from 72% in 2024, 61% in 2021 and 54% in 2017.

Wang knows people haven't been excited about this main event. "Everyone was talking about how bad this main event is," the 34-year-old said through an interpreter. "I think me and my opponent will prove them wrong."

The matchup

Wang is a former pro kickboxer who comes forward. Silva, 29, from Brazil, is more of a counterpuncher who lets opponents come to her. The one time she faced someone as aggressive as Wang in the UFC, Jessica Andrade in 2024, the two won Fight of the Night.

She comes in aggressive, which gives me the opportunity to be aggressive as well.

Coach John Wood of Syndicate MMA called it a pick 'em, with Silva the more complete fighter and the ground as her likely edge if Wang overextends looking for a knockout.

Also on the card

• Ateba Gautier vs. Roman Kopylov. The 24-year-old from Cameroon is 5-0 in the UFC with four knockouts, but his opponents are a combined 4-14. He asked for Israel Adesanya and got Kopylov, a 35-year-old with 12 UFC fights. A real test.

• Payton Talbott vs. Deiveson Figueiredo. A chance for Talbott to make a name against a former champion.

• Jacobe Smith, unbeaten and a reliable finisher.

• Anthony Wint vs. Lucas Armand. The former college and NFL linebacker earned his contract on the Contender Series on Aug. 11 and is fighting for the third time in less than two months.

UFC 332 is Saturday in Salt Lake City. Watch every fight on TVRivo.