B/R Staff Predictions for UFC 332 Main Card

You are probably well aware of the reactions fight fans have had to this Saturday's UFC 332 card in Salt Lake City. People just aren't thrilled about it—and that's understandable.

Compared to your typical numbered UFC card, it is very weak on paper. There's no debating it.

Then again, UFC 332 is going to air for free on CBS. That means it's closer to a Fight Night card than your typical numbered card, and when viewed through that lens, it's actually quite good. It's certainly a lot better than many of the recent cards at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

For starters, it will be topped by a title fight, as Brazil's Natalia Silva takes on China's Wang Cong for the vacant flyweight championship, with longtime champ Valentina Shevchenko forced to vacate the belt due to injury. That's a pretty good main event for a free card.

It will also feature a compelling co-headliner, as red-hot bantamweight contender Payton Talbott looks to lunge into title contention at the expense of former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo.

Before that, we'll be treated to a fan-friendly lightweight contest between King Green and Esteban Ribovics, and the long-overdue UFC debut of former KSW and ONE star Roberto Soldic, who takes on fellow knockout artist Khaos Williams at middleweight.

The main card opener will see middleweight power-puncher Ateba Gautier look for the biggest win of his career at the expense of Roman Kopylov.

It may not be the most stacked card of the year—and it certainly falls way short of other numbered cards—but it should deliver some memorable and meaningful MMA action all the same.

Here's how the B/R combat sports squad sees it all going down in SLC.

Flyweight Title Fight: Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong

Adam Kramer: Silva's path to a title fight has been impressive. While she hasn't finished a fighter since May 2023, five consecutive unanimous decisions over a largely stacked group of fighters carries plenty of weight.

Back-to-back wins over Rose Namajunas and Alexa Grasso, in particular, feel significant heading into this fight.

Wang Cong comes into this far less experienced although with a similar line of unanimous wins. Her lone loss came in November of 2024 to Gabriella Fernandes, and it came by submission.

That feels noteworthy as Silva is likely to close the distance, grapple and threaten submissions throughout. The very threat of Silva's variety of attacks could slow Wang down significantly.

Wang will try to maintain distance with kicks and movement; Silva will try to close that gap throughout.

While Silva doesn't land a finish, she threatens enough to get a decisive win and title.

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Silva, to these eyes, has all the pertinent check marks on her side.

She's younger by a few years and, though she has six non-victories in 26 fights against Wang's one in 11, it's undeniable that she's been in against a far higher level of competition.

Wins against the likes of Namajunas and Grasso don't come easy, but they're exactly what Silva has managed in the last 16 months.

Tom Taylor: Looks like we're unanimous on this one.

I'm totally sold on Silva. Her recent win over Namajunas was very impressive, and her preceding victory over Grasso—who has recently evolved into one of the most violent fighters in their division—has aged tremendously well.

Silva has a better resume than just about any other fighter in the weight class outside of outgoing champ Valentina Shevchenko, and she has the skills to dictate the terms of this fight with Wang.

She'll need to be careful on the feet with Wang, of course, but unless she walks right into a devastating shot, she should win this one handily with her grappling alone.

Bantamweight: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Payton Talbott

Adam Kramer: This is the co-main event on a numbered card? Really?

Look, maybe it's a good fight. Maybe Figueiredo, who has lost four of his last five fights, finds his championship form once again. We've seen him do it, and he's done extraordinary things in the octagon over the past decade.

Still, he's 10 years older than Talbott, who is incredibly violent and capable. He's also recovered nicely after a loss to Raoni Barcelos, who we have seen fight incredibly well of late. That loss has only gotten better with age.

The question is whether this one goes to the judges or not. Unfortunately for Figueiredo, we don't believe it gets that far.

Lyle Fitzsimmons: I'm with anyone who asks how this could possibly be a co-main on a significant card.

Figueiredo will be remembered long after he peels off the gloves, thanks to a fan-friendly style and an epic flyweight rivalry with Brandon Moreno.

But his best days are behind him and his performances as a bantamweight have been, kindly, pedestrian. It's not pleasant for fans to see him fed to a rising 28-year-old here, but Talbott already sent Henry Cejudo packing so why not do it again?

Tom Taylor: I can see why my colleagues are disappointed this fight has landed in the co-headlining spot of a numbered card, but I'm also glad to see Talbott getting a big push from the UFC. He deserves it.

He's an incredibly talented and exciting fighter, and he's also a clear outlier in a sport that is marked by brainless machismo, virulent trash talk, and a relentless quest for viral moments at any cost. He seems like a thoughtful and genuinely good person, and those seem to be hard to find in combat sports these days.

All that to say, I'm backing him to dominate Figueiredo.

The Brazilian has an outstanding legacy, but at 38, he appears to be declining. Talbott's youth, pace and recent form could prove decisive if he is able to force a sustained, high-tempo fight.

Throw in the fact that the American is rangier, bigger and a lot younger, and I just don't really see how he can lose.

Prediction: Talbott by unanimous decision

Lightweight: King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics

Adam Kramer: Now, this is going to be fun. If you want to see two elite strikers punch each other repeatedly for (maybe) 15 minutes, this is the fight for you.

In terms of strategy, this is a doozy. King Green's boxing is electric, and Esteban Ribovics uses brilliant counters that could make this one ugly in a hurry.

For as clean as King's standup can be, he would be wise to make this one ugly with clinches and dirty boxing.

Heck, he might even want to wrestle and abandon the prospects of my initial take entirely. And that's the strategy we're going to go with.

If King chooses to keep this one exclusively upright, it probably won't go well. We believe he'll make it ugly enough to pull the upset.

Lyle Fitzsimmons: Unlike Cejudo and perhaps Figueiredo, Green isn't the retiring type.

Even at 40, he's still squaring off with youngsters and faring well as often as not, as evidenced by four straight wins—most recently a first-round blowout of Terrance McKinney.

Can he perform the same number on a guy like Ribovics, who's split his last four fights since the start of 2025? I'd be lying if I said I knew for sure. And I'll probably regret saying no.

Prediction: Ribovics by unanimous decision

Tom Taylor: It's been cool watching a veteran like Green cruise into his 40s on a four-fight win streak, particularly after a pair of stoppage losses to Mauricio Ruffy and Paddy Pimblett seemingly signalled the end of his time as relevant fighter.

Unfortunately, though, I don't see his momentum continuing beyond this weekend.

Ribovics is far from a world-beater, but it's pretty clear he can at least compete with all but the best lightweights in the sport. For all his accomplishments, I don't think Green is part of that group anymore.

There are certainly ways he can win this fight, but he'll be up against a younger fighter with serious skill, real firepower and an iron chin, so I just don't see it happening.

I expect some fun exchanges early on—and maybe a couple of big moments for Green—but at some point, he'll suffer the same fate as Edson Barboza, who Ribovics wiped out a little over a month ago.

Middleweight: Roberto Soldic vs. Khaos Williams

Adam Kramer: While we've ragged on the card some, this fight is plenty intriguing. The UFC debut of Roberto Soldic is worth watching. The former KSW star is a finishing machine, showcasing great hands and violent combinations.

And at just 31 years old, he's still positioned to be a potential UFC star.

Khaos Williams is capable of his own finishes, something he showcased in May. His issue has been consistency. He's finished two of his last four fights; he's also lost two of his last four.

The oddsmakers see Soldic as a solid favorite here, and it's hard to disagree. Also, if this one goes the distance, I will be stunned.

Lyle Fitzsimmons: I like Williams plenty. Come on, it's hard not to like a guy named Khaos. But he's far from a lock under the best of circumstances, and these aren't them.

People have been talking about Soldic for a reason, and he's been installed as a solid favorite for a reason, too.

Williams could end things in 30 seconds, or he could be outclassed and find himself finished at some point. I see the latter as far more likely.

Tom Taylor : I've been in the building for a couple of Soldic's fights, and I'm very happy he's finally joined the UFC roster. It feels quite overdue, but as Adam said, he's still just 31, so he's hopefully got plenty of time to show UFC fans who he is.

He is an absolutely vicious striker, capable of knocking opponents senseless with his hands, feet and knees at a moment's notice. While his 2023 knockout loss to Zebaztian Kadestam is a little concerning as he prepares to take on a powerhouse like Williams in his UFC debut, I just can't see him losing.

It's really this simple: In a fight between a highly refined striker with massive knockout power, and a relatively unpolished striker with massive knockout power, give me the guy with the technical edge. That's clearly Soldic here.

He'll dictate the rhythm of the dance, set some traps and eventually land a fight-ender.

Middleweight: Roman Kopylov vs. Ateba Gautier

Adam Kramer: In many respects, Ateba Gautier is a unicorn. His size and reach will make him look like a giant in this fight, although that will likely be the case in most of his fights at 185 pounds.

As for that reach, he'll have six inches on Roman Kopylov in this fight. It's an astonishing advantage, and it will allow him to dictate this fight in many respects.

Still, Kopylov is dangerous. He's also only been finished twice in 20 fights. He will make Gautier work, and he's only gone three rounds once in his young UFC career.

Kopylov avoids the finish, but Gautier leaves no doubt.

Prediction: Gautier by unanimous decision

Lyle Fitzsimmons: It's been a rough stretch for Kopylov since the start of 2024 as a four-fight win streak has suddenly become a 3-4 skid in which he's been finished once and beaten unanimously on the scorecards twice.

He won his last one and Gautier is by no means a lock, but the Cameroonian is 10 years younger, taller, longer and has won six straight in UFC-affiliated scenarios.

Kopylov is a step up but looks like a manageable one.

Tom Taylor: I have no trouble picking Gautier in this fight. Kopylov clearly represents the toughest test of the hulking Cameroonian's career so far, but it's hard to see where his advantages are in this matchup.

Like Gautier, he's a striker, but he'll be at a huge disadvantage in terms of size and power, and he is also less aggressive than his opponent.

I suppose there is a world where he can somehow tire Gautier out and win a decision over three rounds, but that seems like a long shot.

It's far more likely that Gautier just marches forward and beats him up until he drops.