Valentina Shevchenko (26-4) has reportedly suffered an injury which has forced her to withdraw from the rumored UFC 332 main event on October 3.
The 38-year-old reclaimed the UFC women’s flyweight championship with a decision win over Alexa Grasso in their trilogy bout on September 14, 2024, and has defended the belt twice — against Manon Fiorot in a decision win on May 10, 2025 and then Zhang Weili later that year in November.
Her third defense, and first fight in 2026, was rumored to be against number one contender Natália Silva in the UFC 332 main event next month, however UFC 332 did not have an announced headliner despite the event being just over a month away.
Silva earned her number one rank at flyweight following a run of decision wins against Jessica Andrade in September, 2024, Grasso in May the following year, and Rose Namajunas on January 24, 2026, however she will now have to wait a little longer for her shot at the flyweight belt.
Shevchenko’s reported injury has led the 41-year-old Cris Cyborg, who fought out her PFL contract with a win over Ketlan Vieira on August 22, to call out her old rival Amanda Nunes to as Cyborg put it “save” the event. Cyborg, who lost to Nunes back in 2018, had previously said she was unsure if she would ever fight again.
Dana White said the full UFC 332 card will be announced this week. Confirmed fights already include include Deiveson Figueiredo against Payton Talbott at bantamweight, a heavyweight showdown between Johnny Walker and Mick Parkin, and Marvin Vettori vs. Ismail Naurdiev at middleweight. Silva’s status on the card is unclear.