Valentina Shevchenko did not willingly give up the UFC flyweight title, according to Ariel Helwani.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, Helwani said he asked around about whether Shevchenko vacated the belt or was stripped of it.
Does she have a lingering injury, yes. If the UFC would have had another title fight for October 3, would she still be champion, yes.
He said the promotion needed a championship fight for the card.
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.
Shevchenko was originally scheduled to defend against Natalia Silva in the UFC 332 main event. In September, her coach Pavel Fedotov said ligament injuries in her shoulder and back forced her out. He put her recovery at up to eight months.
The belt was vacated, and Silva beat Wang Cong by unanimous decision on Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City to claim it.
Shevchenko has not publicly addressed the report. After Silva’s win, she congratulated the new champion on X and told her to “keep it warm.”
