Natalia Silva started formal taekwondo training at the age of 16 and stumbled into mixed martial arts by mere chance. Some nine years later, she finds herself in position to make waves in the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight division. Not everyone takes the same road to prominence.
“I got into MMA out of curiosity,” Silva told Sherdog.com. “My taekwondo teammates and coches mentioned there was a need for a girl for an upcoming MMA card. I wasn’t even sure what MMA was. I was assured everything would work out fine. I took the fight, and since then, I’ve been in love with the adrenaline.