Natalia Silva on the Doorstep of Stardom

All the ingredients necessary for stardom appear to be present in Natalia Silva.

The fast-rising 27-year-old Brazilian will try to take another significant step forward in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight division when she meets Jessica Andrade in the UFC Fight Night 242 co-headliner on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Silva steps back into the Octagon on an 11-fight winning streak that now covers nearly seven years. She has compiled a perfect 5-0 record since she linked arms with the UFC in 2022.

“I’m going through an excellent period in my professional career in the UFC,” Silva told Sherdog.com. “This is thanks to much dedication, effort and commitment. We’ve been working hard to be better each and every day. I always aim to give my maximum effort at every training session. Every day, I seek to be an improved version of myself. I feel that’s what made me stand out in this moment. Losses always teach us something, but I don’t only learn from losses. I also learn in victory. When I win a fight, I always examine it to see what I did right or wrong, so I can find ways to further improve.”

In Andrade, she faces a former champion and one of the most accomplished women in UFC history. “Bate Estaca” has rattled off back-to-back victories since she suffered consecutive defeats to Erin Blanchfield, Xiaonan Yan and Tatiana Suarez between Feb. 18, 2023 and Aug. 5, 2023. Andrade last competed at UFC 300, where she eked out a split decision over Marina Rodriguez—the last woman to beat Silva—on April 13.

“Jessica is a big name in the sport,” Silva said. “Well before she joined the UFC, I was already following her career. She’s a former champ. She was the UFC’s first female champion from Brazil. Our fight has me excited. It’s a very big challenge. She’ll be the biggest name I’ve faced. I gave 100% in our training sessions. I know the fight will be hard, but I’m ready to give my best and walk away with a win.”

Silva spent the days, months and weeks ahead of the match with Team Borracha in Contagem, Brazil. There, coaches Carlos Costa, Rames Luiz and Heider Moura oversaw her preparation. Silva trained alongside Alan Adler, Bryan Monstrinho and current Jungle Fight champion Wagner Reis Ferreira.

“I had excellent sparring sessions,” she said. “They are extremely tough. I’m confident that we did our best so I can arrive very well prepared for this fight. My plan is to get my arm raised.”