Silva Vs. Wang Called Worst Numbered UFC Event

UFC 332 has sparked debate over what qualifies as a numbered event, with multiple outlets questioning whether Saturday's card deserves the designation.

The card is headlined by Natalia Silva versus Wang Cong for the vacant women's flyweight title, a matchup that exists only because Valentina Shevchenko withdrew due to injury. MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew went as far as calling the event "the worst numbered UFC event in modern history," while colleague Mike Heck noted that Wang jumped the line past more deserving contenders like Manon Fiorot, Alexa Grasso, and Erin Blanchfield.

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Why UFC 332 Got A Number Despite Weak Card

The consensus from MMA Fighting's roundtable was that business considerations overrode sporting merit. "Utah paid for a numbered event, so they're gonna get one, come hell or high water," Meshew wrote. Damon Martin agreed, stating the event "absolutely does not qualify" by the metrics expected of a marquee show. The promotion's approach reflects the Paramount era, where numbered events now follow different standards than they did a decade ago. Heck predicted this will not be the last time a card of this quality receives numbered status.

Should Silva or Wang win and never face Shevchenko, they would rank near Nicco Montaño and Germaine de Randamie as the most paper champions in modern UFC history, according to the panel. Martin pointed out that either winner will hold a title that "actually belongs to one of the most dominant champions in UFC history." The saving grace, per Meshew, is that the winner could climb the rankings if they defend successfully multiple times and build a legitimate legacy.

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UFC 332 airs Saturday from Salt Lake City, with the vacant flyweight title bout scheduled for five rounds.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — UFC 332 roundtable: Should this be a numbered UFC event?