The UFC’s first pay-per-view card of 2026 is getting a shakeup.
Former women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso has pulled out of her upcoming bout against No. 6-ranked Rose Namajunas at UFC 324 due to injury, the promotion announced on Thursday.
Grasso was set to step into an octagon for the first time since May, when she lost her second consecutive bout. The Mexican hasn’t won a fight since earning the 125-pound belt by submitting Valentina Shevchenko — who’s now the reigning champ once again — in 2023.
Stepping in to take on Namajunas will be the No.2-ranked UFC women’s flyweight contender Natalia Silva, who happened to beat Grasso via unanimous decision in both fighters’ last bout.
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Merab Dvalishvili defends his bantamweight title against Petr Yan and flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja faces Joshua Van in the co-main event. Watch UFC 323 on Saturday, Dec. 6, with prelim coverage beginning 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
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The Brazilian has risen to the top of the division thanks to an impressive 7-0 start under the banner since making her UFC debut in 2022. Three of Silva’s victories have come against fighters currently ranked, including a 2022 Fight Night win over Canadian Jasmine Jasduvicius (No. 7).
As for Namajunas, this will be the former strawweight champ’s sixth fight since moving up a weight class. “Thug” has gone 3-2 at 125 pounds, winning three of her last four fights, most recently picking up a unanimous decision over No. 10-ranked Miranda Maverick.
UFC 324 is set for Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card littered with fan favourites will be headlined by two championship bouts — Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett facing off for the interim lightweight title, and Kayla Harrison making the first defence of her women’s bantamweight belt against Amanda Nunes in her return from retirement.
