SUMMARY
- Natalia Silva competes in the women's flyweight division of the UFC.
- Natalia was initially introduced to Taekwondo in her hometown of Pingo d'Água.
Natalia Silva is one of the brightest newcomers in the UFC’s women’s flyweight division. Although she is very new to the scene, Silva has managed to hook audiences with flashes of her brilliance. As such, let’s take a deeper dive and find out more about this promising new fighter.
For those unaware, Silva is a lively young athlete, fighting out of Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Notably, the 27-year-old has gone viral after her latest showings at the UFC. Starting off her career in the regional promotions of Brazil, Natalia quickly picked up the tricks of the trade at a very young age.
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As for her brief yet impressive UFC tenure, Natalia bested Jasmine Jasudavicius in her debut. As it turns out, the youngster was in fact signed to the UFC nearly two years prior to her first bout. Due to recurring and complicated injuries, her first fight had to be put on hold. Despite the layoff, Silva has done well in her first four fights, winning all but two of them by way of KO/TKO.
Natalia Silva’s family and childhood
For most, Natalia Silva is seen as a prodigy and possibly the next big name in WMMA. Despite her already impressive start in the UFC, there is a big expectation from Silva to do even better. Ahead of her UFC debut, she revealed how she made her start in the sport and decided to make it her career.
As it turns out, Natalia was initially introduced to Taekwondo in her hometown of Pingo d’Água. When she was quite young, her friend and neighbor told her to join her for a class. Having found a lot of success in the sport initially, Silva began taking it more seriously. Although she suffered a broken arm from it early on, she decided to carry on learning more about the sport.
Throughout her journey, Natalia has been supported by her mother and three siblings. Whilst her mother’s name is unknown, she supposedly has a sister named Ana and two brothers named Samuel and Joel. In the past, the fighter has taken to social media to post about her family members. Further, some fans have wondered if she is linked to the legend, Anderson Silva in any way; however, that is not the case.
Owing to her fitness and good looks, fans have a heightened interest in the fighter. As such, they have often inquired whether the fighter is dating anyone or not. However, as of February 2024, there is no development on the matter. It is believed that Natalia is fully focused on her fighting career for now.
Natalia Silva’s early and UFC career
Eventually, Natalia Silva made the transition from Taekwondo to MMA with the help of her coaches. Under the tutelage of Team Borracha head coach, Carlos Borracha, and one of his top students, Paulo Costa, Natalia has learned a lot. Notably, Borracha and her Taekwondo coach, Rames Luiz, are like fathers to her, and she has often taken to social media to express her gratitude for them.
For the most part, during the earlier parts of her career, the Brazilian gained notoriety for being a submission expert. Prior to her call-up to the UFC, Natalia racked up six straight submission victories, with five of them coming by way of an armbar. Interestingly, her loss, prior to this streak came at the hands of UFC women’s strawweight contender, Marina Rodriguez.
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Considering her Taekwondo background and submission prowess, many expected a very timid approach from Natalia. However, her performances in the UFC have brought out a totally new aspect to her game. Thus, having shown so much promise and room for improvement, many expect Silva to reach great heights in her career. Already #9 in the rankings, the youngster is without a doubt a hot prospect and one for the future.