Natalia Silva: ‘It’s about time’ Valentina Shevchenko learned who I am after UFC 315

Natalia Silva beat former flyweight champion Alexa Grasso just hours before Valentina Shevchenko defended the 125-pound belt against Manon Fiorot at UFC 315, and hopes to be next in line for the title.

Silva extended her overall winning streak to 13 with her seventh victory inside the octagon, and feels she’s done enough to secure a championship chance.

“My focus is on the title,” Silva said post-fight, before Shevchenko beat Fiorot in Montreal. “I came here to become champion, my eyes are on the title. I have a narrative against either one of the two. Valentina once said she didn’t know me, and I think it’s about time she knows me.”

The 28-year-old prospect has now beaten two ex-UFC champions in a row, topping Jessica Andrade and Grasso in a span of eight months, and said that fans can help her earn the shot by rallying for her on social media.

“I think fans can ask for that because it’s a fight that makes sense for me,” Silva said. “It’s the fight I want. Every time the UFC offers me a name I say, ‘Let’s go, I’m ready.’ The UFC knows that. They see I have the potential to become champion. I say that ever since I came here to the UFC, I came here to become champion. And not just another champion, I want to leave a legacy, I want people to know my story.”

Shevchenko was asked about that potential fight after UFC 315, on whether she should face Silva or reigning UFC strawweight queen Zhang Weili next, and said she leaves the decision to the fans.

“Everyone was saying Weili or Natalia?” Shevchenko said. “So I don’t know, maybe fans can pay some role in that and if they can join my OnlyFans page and drop some messages who they want to see me fight next, we’ll compare who’s next.”