Karine Silva, competing in the UFC flyweight division, expressed surprise at the negative response from fans after her win against Dione Barbosa at UFC 319 on Saturday night. Silva secured a decision victory in the rematch, but many spectators believed Barbosa deserved the win, resulting in boos directed at the announcement.

Silva Reflects on Her Performance and Fan Expectations

Silva shared her thoughts during the post-fight scrum through a translator, explaining her perspective on the match outcome.

“I was a little bit surprised with the reaction of the fans. I thought I was closer to submitting her for two of the rounds. Nowadays it’s damage over control,”

Silva said, highlighting the criteria she believed swayed the judge’s decision. She continued,

“I thought I had it in the bag. I knew it was close, but I knew I had won it. I think the fans came to expect me to always finish my fights because that’s who I am. Unfortunately that’s not what always happens.”

The Rematch and Silva’s Mindset Going In

Although this fight marked a rematch from their 2019 bout—where Barbosa earned the victory—Silva did not view it as a personal vendetta. She was more focused on performing well for herself and her team.

“In my head it wasn’t really revenge for me because I felt I won the first fight. I didn’t come here with the vengeance mindset. I came here with the mindset of doing my job, making my team proud of me, and putting the work that we worked on during all these months together,”

Silva remarked.

Implications of the Fight and Fan Response

Silva’s win over Barbosa at UFC 319 adds an important chapter to their rivalry, yet the crowd’s divided opinion reminds fighters and promoters about the challenges of subjective judging criteria. The reaction highlights fans’ expectations for Silva to secure more decisive finishes, reflecting her aggressive fighting style. Moving forward, Silva may face growing pressure to not only win but to dominate on the scorecards to satisfy audiences and critics alike.