Mayra Bueno Silva wins. Following the recent retirement of dominant champion Amanda Nunes, the UFC women’s bantamweight division needed fresh talent, and it appears to have found it in Mayra Bueno Silva.
Mayra Bueno Silva beats Holly Holm
On Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event, Silva (10-2-1) used a standing guillotine choke to defeat former champion Holly Holm (15-7) and end the contest. Holm, 41, exposed her neck while attempting to pull Silva down near the fence, which led to the finish. Without even putting Holm on the ground, Silva pounced on it and forced her to tap.
After that, the 31-year-old Brazilian fighter challenged Julianna Pea to a bout for the vacant 135-pound belt.
I always deliver on my commitments, Silva vowed. I desire that belt. I merit it. Nobody finishes the way I do. Julianna Pea, come on, let’s go. Everyone deserves this, including me, you, and the general populace. The new face is mine. I resolve conflicts and put on a show for everyone. I’m wearing a belt. This is the belt of Brazil. I’ll carry out this duty for Amanda Nunes, my nation, and everyone.
The heaviest defeat for Holm may have also been Silva’s biggest victory in his UFC career.
Holm entered the main event at the Apex in Las Vegas as the third-ranked bantamweight in the UFC. A victory might have propelled her to a UFC title fight due to her high rank and name value. Since Nunes left the sport, Holm was ready to make a meaningful run at the title very late in her career. Four of her previous six UFC defeats had come in title fights.
However, the former boxing champion found it difficult to carry out her strategy against Silva. Early in the fight, Holm pushed Silva against the fence and attempted to position him for short knees and body punches, but Silva didn’t seem phased by the attack. Once Silva was freed from Holm’s hold, it was obvious who had the greater strike force. In the opening round, she tagged Holm with a left hand coming out of the clinch and then a strong right elbow.
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With three victories over opponents that she has submitted, With four victories in a row, Silva is now tied for the longest active winning run with No. 2 ranked bantamweight Raquel Pennington. Additionally, with three submission victories, she matched the legendary Ronda Rousey for the most in women’s bantamweight history.
The bantamweight title has been vacant since Nunes’ unexpected resignation last month, but the UFC has not yet made any firm plans for its replacement. Mayra Bueno Silva is another likely candidate for the job, joining Pea and Pennington.
Holm now has a record of 1-2 in her previous three outings.