Preview: UFC 292 Prelims

Women’s Flyweights

Natalia Silva (15-5-1, 3-0 UFC) vs. #12 WFLW | Andrea Lee (13-7, 5-5 UFC)

ODDS: Silva (-355), Lee (+280)

Silva burst onto the scene in 2022 and gets a big chance at a breakout win in this assignment. Silva had enough regional success to earn her UFC shot but did not particularly pop on film heading into her UFC debut, which got delayed two and a half years due to various issues and dulled any momentum she may have held. However, the Brazilian was an absolute revelation when she made it to the cage against Jasmine Jasudavicius, popping as an athlete and the much quicker striker as she outmaneuvered a tough opponent over three rounds and walked away with a clear decision win. Her sophomore effort against Tereza Bleda saw her come back to earth a bit—she made a lot of poor decisions in a grimy fight before uncorking a vicious knockout kick—but her May 20 win over Victoria Leonardo was a reminder of how she can run over an overmatched opponent. It sets her up well for a move up the ladder against Lee. A former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion, Lee got some hype as a future star almost immediately upon her pro debut in 2014, and she has coalesced into a solid but often frustrating fighter. Advertised as a striker, “KGB” does have some effectiveness in that phase, particularly in recent performances, but her status as a strong but slow flyweight has found her finding just as much success as a grinding clinch fighter and grappler. Lee can rely on her physical gifts to gut out some tough fights, but she has generally struggled against opponents who can set and maintain a pace. Her three-round war against Maycee Barber in March was a promising sign that she may be getting over those issues, even if it did come after a shockingly poor performance against Viviane Araujo where Lee essentially broke. Silva’s occasional tendency to pursue some bad ideas—particularly wrestling when she should not have to—is a concern against a physically strong opponent like Lee, but the Brazilian’s game seems to be clicking at a point where that may not even matter, especially since she seems to be improving every time out. There could be some rough moments, but Silva should be able to separate herself on the scorecards through speed and volume. The pick is Silva via decision.

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