Valentina Shevchenko did not willingly vacate the UFC women’s flyweight title, according to Ariel Helwani. On the October 5 episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, Helwani said the promotion pushed Shevchenko off the 125-pound belt because it needed a championship fight for UFC 332. In return, he said, the UFC promised her a title shot when she comes back. Bloody Elbow followed up on the report Tuesday.
Helwani said he contacted people to find out whether Shevchenko vacated or was stripped. Here is what he reported: “Does she have a lingering injury, yes,” he said. “If the UFC would have had another title fight for October 3, would she still be champion, yes. Did she willingly give up that belt, no. Absolutely not. They needed a title fight. They said we’ll do right by you when you come back, you’ll get the title fight.”
That account sits awkwardly next to the official version. Shevchenko’s coach had said the team chose to vacate because she faces a long recovery from various injuries. Helwani doesn’t dispute the injury. His point is about timing. In his telling, the injury alone wouldn’t have cost her the belt if the UFC had another title fight ready for October 3.
How UFC 332 Got Here
Before the vacant title bout was announced, reports had Shevchenko herself facing Natalia Silva in the Salt Lake City main event, because the promotion’s other plans had fallen through. The other title fight linked to the card was a possible interim light heavyweight bout. Paulo Costa claimed he offered to take that spot ahead of the final fight on his contract, and said the UFC turned him down. On short notice, with nothing else coming together, the flyweight title was the only championship fight left. Once Shevchenko’s injury ruled her out, the UFC needed a firm answer on the belt.
Silva won the vacant title on Saturday while Shevchenko, a former two-time champion, watched. Shevchenko hasn’t publicly addressed Helwani’s report. When she congratulated the Brazilian, she told Silva to keep the belt warm for her. Silva has already said she wants to stay active and doesn’t plan to wait for Shevchenko’s return before defending.
The card had other critics too. Henry Cejudo joined the UFC 332 criticism by telling referee Herb Dean to retire from refereeing.
Quick Take
I don’t have a problem with the UFC wanting a title fight on a card that lost its other one. I also don’t have a problem with Silva holding the belt. Flyweight needs a champion who fights, and she’s saying all the right things about staying busy. My problem is the promise. “We’ll do right by you” is a verbal handshake with no date attached. It was made to a fighter whose own coach describes a long recovery, while the new champion says she won’t wait. If Silva defends once or twice while Shevchenko rehabs, the contenders who beat their way into that queue will have a fair case. At that point the UFC will have to decide whether a handshake from October 2026 outranks them. Shevchenko’s “keep it warm” line reads like she knows exactly how fragile that handshake is.
