Reports: Valentina Shevchenko out of UFC 322 Main Event against Natalia Silva

Just as UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko appeared set to return to the Octagon and defend her throne once again, the fight may have hit an unexpected roadblock.

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Natalia Silva Falls Apart

Reports from Brazil indicate that the former longtime champion is out of her expected UFC 332 main event against Natalia Silva due to an injury. The news comes as a major blow to a Salt Lake City card that had only recently found its headliner, with Shevchenko vs. Silva expected to be elevated from the co-main event slot.

Sadly for Silva, her long-awaited title opportunity now appears to be off the table entirely. As of now, there’s no word on a replacement for the “Bullet,” and it remains unclear whether the promotion will attempt to salvage the Oct. 3 event with another fight atop the card or simply move forward without the women's flyweight championship bout.

Ag Fight broke the news first, reporting that Shevchenko has been forced out of the matchup because of an injury. That is particularly frustrating timing for the Brazilian.

Latest Setback in Valentina Shevchenko's Undefeated Run 

The 29-year-old, since arriving in the UFC in 2022, has remained perfect in the promotion, winning all eight of her appearances and spending years building toward this moment. 

She has also beaten a trio of former champions in Jessica Andrade, Alexa Grasso, and Rose Namajunas, along the way.  For all that work, the opportunity to finally challenge Shevchenko was supposed to be the payoff. Instead, Silva is back in limbo.

In addition, the reported cancellation also comes at an awkward time for the UFC. Shevchenko vs. Silva had only recently emerged as the expected headliner for UFC 332 after other potential options for the top of the card reportedly failed to materialize.

The women's flyweight championship fight had initially been linked to the co-main event before reports emerged that it would be moved into the main-event slot.

Shevchenko's Return On Hold for Now

The injury is also another frustrating twist for Shevchenko, who has not competed since November 2025. The Kyrgyzstani star reclaimed the flyweight championship in 2024 after finally settling her rivalry with Grasso. 

She subsequently defended the belt against Manon Fiorot before adding another major victory against Zhang Weili. That said, there is also no indication yet of whether the UFC could introduce an interim flyweight championship if the champion is expected to remain sidelined for an extended period.

Given that Silva was already waiting for her opportunity, the promotion now faces a difficult decision regarding the division. Silva could potentially wait for the champion to recover. The UFC could look for another opponent for her.

Depending on the severity of Shevchenko's injury, the promotion could explore an interim title. However, none of those options has been confirmed.