Michelle Montague gets a step up in competition at UFC Vegas 116, where the unbeaten bantamweight meets ranked veteran Mayra Bueno Silva on the prelims. Montague, 7-0, is making her second UFC appearance after winning her debut by unanimous decision over Luana Carolina.
The numbers from that first UFC outing were hard to miss. Montague outstruck Carolina 99-75 and landed five of seven takedowns, a tidy debut for a fighter whose six previous professional bouts all ended by rear naked choke submission. She now faces a different test in Silva, who enters the bout ranked No. 12 in the division and carries a 10-6-1 record.
For Silva, the assignment comes with pressure attached. The Brazilian is on a four-fight losing streak, has dropped back-to-back unanimous decisions and has not won since 2023. She made her UFC debut in 2018 and is trying to avoid slipping out of the rankings, while Montague is trying to push into them.
The matchup also brings a clear style contrast. Montague stands 5-foot-9 with a 68.5-inch reach, while Silva is listed at 5-foot-6 with a 66.5-inch reach. Montague has already shown she can win a longer fight as well as finish one, but Silva is the more experienced UFC name and the more urgent case, especially after her prior win over Holly Holm was overturned to a no contest following a positive test for PEDs.
Montague’s opportunity is straightforward: beat a ranked opponent and make the case that she belongs in the division’s next tier. Silva needs a result even more badly. After four straight losses and no win since returning from a minor suspension, she enters UFC Vegas 116 with little margin left.
