The UFC 315 main card featured an exciting women's flyweight bout between former champion Alexa Grasso and fifth-ranked contender Natália Silva. This fight marked Grasso's first appearance in the octagon since she lost the title to Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 306 in September. Eager to bounce back and reclaim her spot in title contention, the 31-year-old Grasso faced a tough challenge against Silva.
Silva entered this matchup with an impressive 12-fight winning streak and had not lost since December 2017. A victory over Grasso, a top contender and former champion, would likely earn Silva a shot at the title in her next fight.
The fight began with Silva effectively employing leg kicks while Grasso focused on establishing her jab. Early in the first round, Silva slipped while attempting a kick, allowing Grasso to close the distance for a brief clinch. After separating, Grasso doubled up on her jab, but Silva countered with a sharp left hook. Throughout the round, Silva maintained her offensive strategy and even delivered a side kick to Grasso's face. Grasso struggled to effectively cut off the octagon and make her way into boxing range. In the last seconds of the round, Grasso connected with her jab, but MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 in favor of Silva.
As the second round got underway, Grasso put pressure on Silva by doubling her jab. Both fighters exchanged leg kicks, with Silva attempting a high kick that Grasso successfully blocked. Silva showcased her technique by circling on the outside, making it challenging for Grasso to connect. Grasso managed to land a straight right hand but received a counter left hook from Silva during an exchange. Despite some success, Grasso struggled to consistently land her punches. In a flurry, Grasso closed the distance but found herself caught by counters from Silva. MMAWeekly again scored the round 10-9 for Silva.
The third round began with Grasso pressing forward. Silva, adapting her strategy, delivered a front kick to the body to keep Grasso at bay. Grasso entered the pocket with a combination and attempted to get the fight to the ground, delivering a knee to Silva's body in the process. After separating, Grasso returned to her jab, but Silva responded with a combination of her own. Silva’s constant changes in direction made it difficult for Grasso to pin her down. A side kick to the chest pushed Grasso back, and a kick from Silva opened a cut below Grasso's left eye. Although Grasso landed some shots in return, the round was ultimately won by Silva.
After three rounds of intense competition, the judges rendered their decision, scoring the fight unanimously in favor of Natália Silva. All three judges had the bout scored 30-27, reflecting Silva's controlled performance and effective striking throughout the fight.
