Valentina Shevchenko Vacates UFC Flyweight Championship Due to Injury

The UFC women’s flyweight division has been thrown into chaos.

Valentina Shevchenko has vacated her UFC women’s flyweight championship because of an injury that is expected to keep her sidelined for up to a year. The announcement was made during Saturday’s UFC Paris broadcast, bringing an unexpected end to her latest championship reign.

Shevchenko’s Reign Comes to an End

Shevchenko, widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters in UFC history, had reclaimed the 125-pound championship in September 2024 with a unanimous decision victory over Alexa Grasso.

She then successfully defended the belt against Manon Fiorot and Zhang Weili, establishing herself once again as the top fighter in the division. The UFC’s official record lists Shevchenko at 26-4-1, with eight knockout victories and seven submissions.

Her most recent fight came in November 2025, when she defeated Zhang by unanimous decision to retain the championship.

Now, an injury has forced her to step away.

A New Champion Will Be Crowned

With Shevchenko’s title officially vacant, the UFC wasted little time determining what comes next.

Natalia Silva and Wang Cong will fight for the undisputed women’s flyweight championship at UFC 332 on October 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Silva enters the fight with an impressive 20-5-1 record and an undefeated UFC record. She is riding a lengthy winning streak and recently picked up victories over former champions Rose Namajunas and Alexa Grasso.

Wang Cong has also built serious momentum, winning four straight fights heading into the championship opportunity.

What Happens When Shevchenko Returns?

The biggest question now becomes what comes next for Shevchenko.

An injury-related absence of up to a year means the division will have a new champion by the time she is ready to return. That could set up an immediate blockbuster fight between Shevchenko and whoever leaves UFC 332 with the belt.

For now, however, one of the most dominant champions in UFC history is officially without her title.

Shevchenko’s latest reign is over, but this almost certainly isn’t the end of her championship story. When “Bullet” returns, the road back to the top could be one of the biggest storylines in women’s MMA.