Natalia Silva will have to fight one more time to earn a title shot at UFC 324.
Last month, the UFC announced that former flyweight champion Alexa Grasso would take on former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in a high-profile bout on Jan. 24, 2026. However, on Wednesday, MMA Fighting confirmed that Grasso had withdrawn from the event, with No. 2-ranked Silva stepping in to replace her. Sherdog was first to report the switch.
Silva (19-5-1) was the presumptive next title challenger for Valentina Shevchenko, with the champion even giving her shine after he win at UFC 322. She has amassed a 7-0 record in the UFC and recently took a unanimous decision over Grasso at UFC 315 in May.
Namajunas (14-7) is a former two-time strawweight champion, but moved up to 125 pounds in 2023. Sporting a 3-2 record in the division, Namajunas most recently took a unanimous decision over Miranda Maverick at UFC Atlanta in June.
UFC 324 takes place on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Mike Heck, Damon Martin, and Guilherme Cruz contributed to this report.
