LAS VEGAS – Natalia Silva’s seven-month absence from the octagon ahead of UFC Fight Night 242 has been the product of personal struggle.
“I had a hard moment in my life,” Silva told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I lost my sister recently, four months ago. I’d like to have fought again before, but I (couldn’t).”
The death of her sibling was a traumatic experience, but Silva (17-5-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) enters fight week for Saturday’s women’s flyweight matchup against former UFC champ Jessica Andrade (26-12 MMA, 17-10 UFC) with her signature smile still on her face. She knows the matchup, which takes place at the UFC Apex and streams on ESPN+, is one that could change her career in a significant way.
“This is my opportunity,” Silva said. “I can do this. Jessica is a good name in UFC, and I needed to accept this opportunity and show my skills, my work. Now I am here to fight against Jessica.
“I trained for three rounds, but if I have an opportunity to finish the fight, I will take it.”
Silva, No. 11 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s flyweight rankings, is undefeated so far in her octagon tenure. She’s picked up some notable wins against the likes of Viviane Araujo, Andrea Lee and Jasmine Jasudavicius, but beating a former titleholder would put her resume on a different level.
Although Silva, 27, isn’t certain a victory over Andrade will put her next in line for a shot at the belt, she knows she’d at least be close. And with champion Alexa Grasso set to meet Valentina Shevchenko in a trilogy bout next week at UFC 306, the timing for an impressive win couldn’t be much better.
“A victory against Jessica will give me a new opportunity,” Silva said. “I know I can fight for the belt and a victory against Jessica will give me an opportunity for this. … Every fight that I go into I see as an opportunity to fight for the title. I see an opportunity to show my skills, show my hard work and going into the fight with Jessica, that’s how I approach it. But I think this is an opportunity for me for a higher goal, which is to be a champion.”
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