theScore's Nick Baldwin makes his picks ahead of Saturday's UFC 332 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Women's flyweight championship
Natalia Silva (20-5-1)
vs.
Wang Cong (10-1)
This isn't the women's flyweight title fight we wanted to see, but here we are.
Natalia Silva has been waiting for this opportunity for several years. The 29-year-old Brazilian has beaten former UFC champions in three consecutive fights and has won 14 in a row overall. Many considered her the biggest threat to Valentina Shevchenko's belt, and now she's the favorite to become the new champ in this vacant title bout.
Standing in her way is Wang Cong, a 34-year-old Chinese fighter who has put together a 5-1 record since a win on "Road to UFC" in 2024.
This is a matchup between two striking-first fighters. It isn't completely one-sided, but Silva is favored for a reason. She's fought the better competition and is a more capable MMA striker. I'm expecting some close rounds in what will be a tactical battle, but Silva should do enough in the first half of the fight to seal a decision win.
The pick: Silva, unanimous decision
Bantamweight bout
Deiveson Figueiredo (25-7-1)
vs.
Payton Talbott (11-1)
This feels a lot like Payton Talbott's last fight against Henry Cejudo. Not because Cejudo and Deiveson Figueiredo are the same fighters, but because they're both former champions well past their primes.
Regardless of how high Figueiredo's ceiling used to be, Talbott has a lot more gas in the tank, and that should be enough to get the job done and continue his climb in the bantamweight division. Figueiredo has lost four of his last five fights and is only getting older, while Talbott is 5-1 in the UFC and, at 28 years old, is entering the prime of his career.
Talbott will be quicker and sharper on the feet, and his cardiovascular endurance will be better than Figueiredo's as he secures his third straight victory in the Octagon.
The pick: Talbott, unanimous decision
Lightweight bout
King Green (36-17-1, 1 NC)
vs.
Esteban Ribovics (16-3)
UFC 332 isn't the best card, but there's a lot of potential for violence, and King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics is at the top of that list.
This fight should be action-packed from start to finish. And I'm done counting out Green, even though he's 40 years old and has no business beating a young up-and-comer like Ribovics. Green has won four in a row since the end of 2025 (including three via finish and two in the first round). He's beaten decent competition, too, including Terrance McKinney and Daniel Zellhuber. It's a career resurgence that no one could've seen coming.
Ribovics could and probably should win, but Green has defied the odds before, and I'm predicting he'll do it again in Salt Lake City.
The pick: Green, third-round TKO
Welterweight bout
Roberto Soldic (21-4, 1 NC)
vs.
Khaos Williams (16-5)
Former KSW two-division champion Roberto Soldic is set to make his UFC debut against Khaos Williams. It's a fight he should win as the more skilled mixed martial artist, but Williams is a wild man and has the power to knock out anybody.
This fight will give us a good idea of Soldic's ceiling in the UFC.
The pick: Soldic, second-round TKO
Middleweight bout
Ateba Gautier (11-1)
vs.
Roman Kopylov (15-5)
Ateba Gautier is one of the best prospects in the UFC, having gone 5-0 with four knockouts since his debut in March 2025. This is a big step up in competition against Roman Kopylov, but Gautier should still pass the test.
The pick: Gautier, unanimous decision
Rapid-fire bets
💥 Best overall bet: Roberto Soldic / Eric Nolan (+102)
There aren't a ton of straight bets I like on this card, but a parlay with Soldic and lightweight Eric Nolan - who faces Court McGee on the prelims - is a solid choice.
💥 Best underdog bet: Bobby Green (+180) def. Esteban Ribovics
Green has turned back the clock way too many times to be counted out against Ribovics.
💥 Best prop bet: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Payton Talbott goes over 2.5 rounds (-125)
Figueiredo is facing an uphill battle against Talbott, but his durability should allow him to make it to the final horn.
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