Valentina Shevchenko Vacates Flyweight Title, UFC 332 Gets a Chaotic New Main Event
Valentina Shevchenko has vacated the UFC women's flyweight title due to injury, setting up Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong as the new main event for UFC 332.
HotTakes Editorial Team2 min read
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The UFC 332 main event just got a massive shakeup, and the women's flyweight division is officially in chaos mode. Valentina Shevchenko is vacating her title due to injury, handing the marquee spot in Salt Lake City to Natalia Silva and Wang Cong.
According to reporter Adam Martin, the injury was severe enough for Shevchenko to drop the belt entirely rather than hold up the division. That turns what was supposed to be a legacy-defining defense into a sudden-death scramble for the vacant throne.
"Reporter Adam Martin broke the news that Shevchenko vacated the belt due to injury."
Shevchenko was on the verge of history before her body betrayed her. After taking her belt back from Alexa Grasso at UFC 306 and defending it against Weili Zhang at UFC 322, she was one win away from breaking a tie with Amanda Nunes for the most women's title fight wins in UFC history. Instead, the record is on ice, and the division moves on without its final boss.
Vacating a title is the MMA equivalent of leaving your keys in the ignition of a running Ferrari and walking away. Now, Natalia Silva gets to jump in the driver's seat. Silva is riding a ridiculous 14-fight win streak, including an 8-0 run in the UFC with recent decision wins over former champions Rose Namajunas and Grasso. She is a striking machine who lands nearly five significant strikes a minute and defends takedowns like they personally offended her.
Stepping up to face her is Wang Cong, the number six ranked contender who suddenly finds herself fighting for undisputed gold. For anyone looking at the betting markets, this completely flips the board. You go from pricing a historic champion against a rising star to handicapping a red-hot Silva against a massive underdog who just skipped the line.
UFC 332 is just over a month away, and the Salt Lake City crowd is getting a completely different flavor of violence. We will have to wait for a timeline on Shevchenko's recovery, but for now, the flyweight division is about to crown a brand new queen.
Key stats
Key statsNatalia Silva is on a 14-fight win streak and is a perfect 8-0 in the UFC.
Shevchenko was tied with Amanda Nunes for the most women's title fight wins in UFC history.
Wang Cong is the #6 ranked contender in the women's flyweight division.
What's next
Silva and Cong will fight for the vacant title at UFC 332, while Shevchenko faces an unknown recovery timeline before she can attempt to reclaim her belt.
