Natalia Silva was all prepared to take on Valentina Shevchenko and take the women’s flyweight belt from her at UFC 332 on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
asserted
Silva → take → City
But Shevchenko pulled out nearly a month ago because of back and shoulder injuries and vacated the title to force a quick and major change of plans.
asserted
Shevchenko → pull → plans
Now Silva will try to capture the title when as the top-ranked challenger the Brazilian faces No. 8 Wang Cong of China.
asserted
Brazilian → try → China
“We were preparing for Valentina strategically,” Silva said through a Portuguese interpreter.
asserted
Silva → prepare → interpreter
“Sparring was based on Valentina.
asserted
Sparring → base → Valentina
They were emulating Valentina and everything was focused on her, and I got the news that it wasn’t her.
asserted
it → emulate → news
At that point, I was like, ‘Damn, that’s the fight that I’ve always wanted.
asserted
I → ’ → that
That’s what I worked for.
asserted
I → ’ → what
That’s what I was envisioning.’
asserted
I → ’ → what
“But at that moment, coaches just pivoted.
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coaches → pivot → moment
Our entire strategy shifted and we right away started preparing.
asserted
we → shift → ?
It was about early September, so about 30 days I had to prepare, and we started preparing for my current opponent.
asserted
we → have → opponent
Silva (20-5-1) is a -205 or -210 favorite depending on the sportsbook to capture the championship over the 34-year-old Cong (10-1), who is relatively new to MMA.
asserted
who → depend → MMA
Though the 29-year-old Silva has dreamed of owning the name atop a numbered UFC event, this is far from the type of leading matchup many fans wanted to see.
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fans → dream → matchup
How Cong was given the spot over higher-ranked challengers has drawn some criticism.
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given → give → criticism
Cong defeated Shevchenko in a kickboxing event in 2015, and if no else believes in her ability to win Saturday, she is ready to make a statement.
asserted
she → defeat → statement
If Cong beats Silva, maybe that will lead to what she really wants — a shot at Shevchenko in the octagon.
asserted
she → beat → octagon
In that way, she and Silva are aligned.
asserted
she → align → way
“This fight is definitely going to be exciting,” Cong said through an interpreter.
asserted
Cong → go → interpreter
“We’re going to use this performance to shut (the critics) up.”
asserted
We → go → critics
Silva will take an exciting fight as long as she comes out the victor.
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she → take → fight
Before the exit of Shevchenko, regarded by many as the greatest ever in her weight class, Silva was the underdog taking on a decorated champion.
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Silva → regard → champion
Now Silva is the first name on this card, and she doesn’t take it for granted.
asserted
she → take → it
Maybe this wasn’t the way she played it out in her mind, but Silva isn’t about to walk away from this opportunity.
asserted
Silva → play → opportunity
“As soon as the fight announced it was not her, (Shevchenko) became a nonfactor for me,” Silva said.
asserted
Silva → announce → me
“I have my eyes on Cong.
asserted
I → have → Cong
She is the one I have to focus on.
asserted
I → have → ?
“As far as having my name on the poster, being in the main event, it’s incredible because that’s what I’ve worked for.
asserted
I → have → what
That’s what I’ve always dreamed.
asserted
I → ’ → what
That’s what I envisioned throughout my life.
asserted
I → ’ → life
Just to see and sign a poster with my face on it ... that’s a dream becoming true.
asserted
that → see → it
I’m absolutely ecstatic over it.
asserted
I → ’m → it
In the co-main event, bantamweight ninth-ranked challenger Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1) of Brazil faces No. 12 Payton Talbott (11-1), a Las Vegas native who fights out of Reno, Nevada.
asserted
who → rank → Reno
The Aporia
