Why Fans Think UFC 332 Will Be One of The Weakest Events UFC Has Ever Done

UFC 332: The Main Event Problem

The biggest issue maybe is the headline fight. Silva vs. Wang is a legitimate championship contest, but the circumstances behind it have weakened its perception. The title became vacant after Valentina Shevchenko was forced out while recovering from injuries, with the UFC stating that she would be unable to compete for at least a year.

Silva brings a strong résumé. She's unbeaten in eight UFC appearances and enters the fight on a 14-fight winning streak overall, including recent victories over Rose Namajunas, Alexa Grasso and Jessica Andrade. Wang has also won four straight UFC fights. The issue is recognition.

Neither fighter has previously headlined a UFC event, and Wang is still establishing herself at the highest level. Brendan Schaub went considerably further, describing Silva-Wang as the “worst main event in MMA history.” That's his assessment, rather than an objective measurement, but it illustrates the level of criticism surrounding the booking. 

A Numbered Event Without Many Big Names

The criticism becomes clearer when looking at the rest of the main card. Figueiredo is a former UFC flyweight champion and Talbott is a ranked bantamweight prospect, making the co-main event meaningful. The UFC lists them at No. 9 and No. 11 respectively.

After that, the card becomes much less recognizable to casual fans. King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics, Soldic vs. Khaos Williams and Gautier vs. Kopylov are all legitimate fights, but none carries the immediate name recognition traditionally associated with a major numbered show.

That distinction matters because UFC 332 is not being presented as an ordinary Fight Night, it is a numbered event.

For years, that label has carried an expectation of championship fights, established stars and bouts with major divisional consequences. Fans therefore judge the card against other numbered events rather than against an average Saturday night Fight Night.

The Timing Doesn't Help for UFC 332

There's also a scheduling issue. UFC 332 arrives shortly after UFC 331, which featured several established names and major storylines, including Joshua Van, Arman Tsarukyan, Marlon Vera and Patricio Pitbull.  That comparison naturally makes UFC 332 feel less star-heavy.

It's also worth remembering that the UFC itself has positioned the Salt Lake City event as a showcase for emerging talent. Its promotional material describes Silva-Wang as a championship fight involving the next generation of UFC stars, while highlighting Figueiredo-Talbott as another major matchup.

That is a perfectly reasonable way to build a card, it simply may not satisfy fans who associate a numbered UFC event with established superstars.

Does That Make It a Bad Card?

Not necessarily! This is where the criticism needs some perspective. Silva's unbeaten UFC run, Wang's four-fight winning streak, Figueiredo's championship pedigree and Talbott's ranking give the event legitimate sporting significance.

MMA has repeatedly demonstrated that an apparently underwhelming card can produce excellent fights. The real issue is expectation. UFC 332 may not be weak because its fighters lack ability. Fans are questioning whether the collection of fights carries the depth, star power and narrative importance they expect from a numbered UFC event.

That's a different criticism and until the fights actually happen, it remains impossible to know whether UFC 332 will ultimately deserve the reputation it has acquired before the first punch is thrown.