Shevchenko Vacates Flyweight Crown, Silva vs. Wang Set for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 332

UFC officials announced during the UFC Paris broadcast that Valentina Shevchenko has vacated the women’s flyweight championship after disclosing an injury that will keep her out of competition for “up to one year.” The promotion immediately scheduled a vacant-title bout between Brazil’s Natalia Silva and China’s Wang Cong to headline UFC 332 on October 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

ESPNKyrgyzstan's Valentina Shevchenko Vacates UFC Title EssentiallySportsValentina Shevchenko Vacates UFC Flyweight Championship Due to Injury Heavy

Shevchenko, a two-time flyweight champion, most recently reclaimed the belt in September 2024 with a unanimous-decision win over Alexa Grasso. She subsequently defended the title against Manon Fiorot and Zhang Weili, extending her reign to three straight defenses before the injury forced her to step away. The champion had not fought since a November bout, and the undisclosed injury prompted her to inform the UFC that she would be unable to compete for at least a year, leading to the vacancy.

Valentina Shevchenko Vacates UFC Flyweight Championship Due to Injury

• Natalia Silva – Brazilian, No. 1 ranked flyweight. She holds a 20-5-1 overall record and is 8-0 inside the UFC, riding a 14-fight win streak. Her recent victories include unanimous-decision wins over former champions Rose Namajunas, Alexa Grasso and Jessica Andrade.

Undisputed Flyweight Title Up For Grabs At UFC 332 In Salt Lake City

• Wang Cong – Chinese, ranked No. 6 and No. 8 (overall). She is 10-1 as a professional and 5-1 in the UFC, entering the fight on a four-fight winning streak. Wang’s résumé includes gold medals at the 2013 World Wushu Championships and the 2014 Asian Games, a silver medal in amateur boxing at the 2019 World Championships, and a recent unanimous-decision win over Tracy Cortez.

Valentina Shevchenko Sidelined for a Year as UFC 332 Gets New Vacant Flyweight Title Main Event

Both athletes are described as “dynamic, entertaining strikers” capable of producing highlight-reel moments.

Undisputed Flyweight Title Up For Grabs At UFC 332 In Salt Lake City

Silva’s camp emphasized that the Brazilian fighter “deserves this opportunity” after an 8-0 UFC run, while Wang’s representatives highlighted her striking pedigree and recent four-fight streak as evidence she is ready for a championship bout.

Heavy

• “This fight brings together two dynamic and exciting strikers, each capable of creating unforgettable moments when they step into the octagon.” — The UFC

Kyrgyzstan's Valentina Shevchenko Vacates UFC Title

The Silva-vs-Wang matchup marks the first women’s main event on a numbered UFC card since UFC 289 in 2023, underscoring the promotion’s need to keep the flyweight division active while its long-time champion recovers. Should the winner defend the belt successfully, they could face Shevchenko in a future title bout once the Kyrgyzstani champion is cleared to compete.

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In addition to the vacant flyweight title fight, the main card features a bantamweight showdown between former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and rising contender Payton Talbott. The event also includes Johnny Walker’s heavyweight debut against Mick Parkin and several undercard matchups featuring prospects such as Ateba Gautier, Damian Pinas and Imanol Rodríguez.

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