Wang Cong’s Low Kicks Set the Tone Against Ariane da Silva
Wang Cong defeated Ariane da Silva by unanimous decision at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025. All three judges scored the flyweight contest 30–27 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, giving Wang a second consecutive victory after her first professional setback.
Attacks to the lead leg disrupted the veteran
Wang repeatedly targeted da Silva’s lead leg, forcing the Brazilian to change stance. Her kicking attacks created problems before the striking exchanges became more competitive during the final round.
Da Silva continued working and enjoyed her strongest stretch in the third, but Wang remained effective enough to preserve a clear advantage. Every judge awarded her all three rounds.
The result extended a successful rebound
Wang had lost to Gabriella Fernandes by second-round rear-naked choke in November 2024. She returned against Bruna Brasil in February 2025 and won a unanimous decision.
The da Silva victory added another full-distance success to that recovery. It contrasted with Wang’s UFC debut in August 2024, when she knocked out Victoria Leonardo in just sixty-two seconds.
A broad striking background preceded her MMA rise
Wang entered MMA with experience in kickboxing, sanda and boxing. Her official profile records a professional kickboxing victory over Valentina Shevchenko in October 2015.
Those achievements came in different competitive settings from the UFC flyweight division. Against da Silva, Wang translated her striking experience into a sustained three-round performance, using repeated leg attacks and accurate offense to secure another unanimous verdict.
Sources
- UFC: leg attacks and da Silva’s final-round response
- UFC: Fernandes setback, Brasil and Leonardo wins, and striking background
- UFC: official scores, date and venue
