Valentina Shevchenko Vacates UFC Belt Due to Injury, New Title Fight Announced for UFC 332 Card

The UFC announced Saturday it will crown a new women's flyweight champion at UFC 332 on Oct. 3.

The promotion has vacated the title as Valentina Shevchenko is sidelined because of an injury. Natalia Silva will oppose Wang Cong in the main event.

Shevchenko regained the championship by winning a unanimous decision over Alexa Grasso in 2024. She then successfully defended the belt against Manon Fiorot and Zhang Weili.

The 38-year-old hasn't stepped inside the Octagon since last November, and that layoff will extend for an indeterminate period of time.

Silva is the No. 1 challenger in the UFC's official rankings. Wang, who's ranked sixth, is the major beneficiary of Shevchenko's exit as she now has the biggest fight of her MMA career ahead.

Wang is 10-1 as a pro and riding a four-fight winning streak. She was an experienced kickboxer before pivoting to mixed martial arts in 2022. Now, she's one win away from being a UFC champion.

Silva's overall record (20-5) is a little deceptive as to her recent dominance. Her last loss was nearly a decade ago. Since dropping a unanimous decision to Marina Rodriguez in December 2017, she has won 14 straight fights.

The main card for UFC 332 is slated to include a bantamweight battle between Deiveson Figueiredo and Payton Talbott along with a lightweight clash featuring King Green and Esteban Ribovics.