UFC flyweight Natalia Silva credits motivation from coach for believing in finishing ability

LAS VEGAS – Women’s UFC flyweight Natalia Silva is starting to make noise in the division with her performances.

Silva (15-5-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) picked up her first win of 2023 by finishing Victoria Leonardo with a series of hard strikes in the first round. She credits her finish to the advice relayed by her coach Carlos Borracha, whose words provided her with the confidence she needed to end another fight early.

“My coach Carlos told me, ‘Natalia, believe in your punch because it’s very, very strong. If you hit her, you can finish the fight,’” Silva told reporters at the post-fight news conference. “And all the time I think, ‘I can, I can. I believe in that.’”

The motivating words turned into spectacular results, as Silva picked up her second-straight finish to remain undefeated in her three-fight UFC run. Although she didn’t pick up a Performance of the Night bonus like she did for knocking out Tereza Bleda last November, Silva plans to return home to spend time with her family until it’s time to make the walk to the octagon again.

Check out the full post-fight interview with Silva in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 224.