Valentina Shevchenko has reportedly withdrawn from UFC 332 after suffering an undisclosed injury, putting her expected title fight against Natalia Silva on hold. The matchup had been reported as the planned main event for the October 3 event in Salt Lake City, although the UFC had not officially announced the fight before it was pulled from its event listing. The latest development leaves the promotion searching for a new headliner with roughly one month remaining before fight night.
Valentina Shevchenko Withdraws From UFC 332
Reports from Brazil first revealed that Shevchenko was dealing with an injury and would no longer compete against Natalia Silva at UFC 332. The exact nature of the injury has not been revealed, meaning there is currently no confirmed recovery timeline for the women’s flyweight champion.
The news is a major setback for UFC 332 because Shevchenko vs. Silva had emerged as the most likely fight to headline the Salt Lake City card. However, the UFC had not formally announced the bout, making this a reported fight withdrawal rather than the cancellation of an officially promoted title fight.
The UFC’s current event page lists UFC 332 for October 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, but the main event is now shown as TBD.
What Happened to Shevchenko vs. Natalia Silva?
The planned matchup carried significant importance for the women’s flyweight division. Shevchenko was expected to defend her championship against Silva, who had positioned herself among the division’s leading contenders.
The fight had been reported as part of the UFC 332 lineup in August, with Shevchenko entering the matchup as champion and Silva looking for her first UFC title opportunity. Reports later indicated that the bout was being moved into the main-event position after uncertainty surrounding other potential headline fights.
That plan has now fallen apart because of Shevchenko’s injury.
For Silva, the situation creates an immediate question about her next move. The UFC could wait for Shevchenko to recover and revisit the title fight, or it could attempt to keep Silva on the October 3 card against another opponent.
An interim championship fight could also become a possibility if Shevchenko is expected to remain out for an extended period, although there is currently no official indication that the UFC will take that route.
Why Shevchenko’s Injury Is a Major Blow to UFC 332
Shevchenko’s withdrawal leaves UFC 332 without a confirmed championship fight.
The event already has several notable matchups, including Payton Talbott vs. Deiveson Figueiredo and Mick Parkin vs. Johnny Walker. However, none currently carries the same championship importance as the reported Shevchenko vs. Silva matchup.
This creates a difficult situation for the UFC because the promotion now needs to find a replacement main event rather than simply replacing one fighter in an undercard bout.
Dana White has indicated that the UFC plans to announce the new UFC 332 main event during the week. That gives the promotion some time to find a suitable matchup, but the options are becoming increasingly limited as several top fighters are already booked or dealing with injuries.
The latest change also adds to a long history of UFC cards being reshaped by injuries and late withdrawals. Fans familiar with UFC events affected by cancellations know how quickly one major change can alter an entire card.
What Is Next for Valentina Shevchenko?
Shevchenko will now focus on recovering from the undisclosed injury before returning to competition.
The UFC’s official fighter profile lists her at 26-4-1, with her most recent fight coming against Zhang Weili at UFC 322 in November 2025. Shevchenko won that fight by unanimous decision and retained the women’s flyweight championship.
Her withdrawal therefore delays her next title defense, but there is no indication that she has lost her championship status.
The biggest unanswered question is the severity of the injury. Until more information becomes available, it would be premature to predict how long Shevchenko will be sidelined or when the UFC could reschedule her fight with Silva.
Natalia Silva’s Next Move
Natalia Silva is now left without the title opportunity she had been preparing for.
The Brazilian contender has built considerable momentum in the UFC and was expected to challenge Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight championship. If the UFC decides not to wait for the champion, Silva could potentially remain on the October 3 card against a replacement opponent.
However, that decision would depend on the availability of another top contender and whether the UFC believes a replacement fight makes sense for the division.
For Silva, waiting for Shevchenko may ultimately be the most straightforward option if the champion’s recovery is expected to be relatively short. A new opponent would give Silva an opportunity to stay active, but it could also change the stakes of her expected title run.
UFC 332 Needs a New Main Event
With Shevchenko out, UFC 332 has a major gap at the top of the card.
The event is scheduled for October 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, and the UFC’s official listing currently shows the main event as TBD.
The promotion now has to decide whether to promote one of the existing matchups or add a new fight specifically for the main-event slot.
That decision could also affect the rest of the card. A strong replacement could quickly restore interest in UFC 332, while a weaker option could leave the event without the championship-level attraction that Shevchenko was expected to provide.
For now, the focus remains on Shevchenko’s recovery and the UFC’s search for a new headline fight.
Final Thoughts
The Valentina Shevchenko UFC 332 withdrawal is a significant setback for both the champion and the Salt Lake City event. Her reported injury has ended plans for her expected matchup with Natalia Silva, while the UFC is now left without a confirmed main event for October 3.
The biggest unknown is the severity of Shevchenko’s injury. If her recovery is short, the UFC could simply reschedule the title fight with Silva. If she faces a longer absence, however, the promotion may need to consider an interim title or another route for the division.
For now, fans will have to wait for more information on Shevchenko’s condition and the UFC’s replacement main-event announcement.
