UFC 332 Fight Saved By 3-Day-Notice Champion Replacement

A UFC 332 bout has reportedly been saved after an MMA champion agreed to step in on three days' notice and replace an injured fighter. The report, which the UFC has not officially confirmed, says the late change keeps the fight on the October 3 card in Salt Lake City rather than seeing it canceled. The replacement's identity and the affected matchup were not detailed.

The event is headlined by Natalia Silva against Wang Cong for the women's flyweight title. According to the report, that title fight exists because Valentina Shevchenko vacated the belt due to injury.

Silva, a 29-year-old Brazilian from Team Borracha, enters as the division's top-ranked contender at 20-5-1. The southpaw lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute at 45 percent accuracy. She stands five-foot-four with a 65-inch reach and has taken a modest approach to grappling, averaging 0.43 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Wang, 34, is ranked eighth at 10-1-0 and is also a southpaw. Her striking numbers stand out: 6.82 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy. She is five-foot-six with a 65-inch reach and averages 0.62 takedowns and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Shevchenko, 38, of Kyrgyzstan and Tiger Muay Thai, holds a 26-4-1 record and was the reigning champion before the reported vacancy. The southpaw lands 3.14 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• The women's flyweight title is reportedly up for grabs after Shevchenko's departure from the championship, opening the division to a new champion.
• Silva, the top contender, meets the eighth-ranked Wang in a clash of two southpaws with sharply different volume numbers.
• A replacement stepping in with only three days to prepare would keep the card intact, though official UFC confirmation is still awaited.