UFC 332 faces criticism over title fight and event status
Analysts question whether UFC 332 should be a numbered pay-per-view event after a last-minute women’s flyweight title bout was arranged following Valentina Shevchenko’s injury.
UFC 332, scheduled for Saturday, will feature a women’s flyweight title fight between Natalia Silva and Wang Cong after champion Valentina Shevchenko withdrew with an injury. The bout, set as the main attraction of a numbered pay-per-view, has prompted commentators to debate the event’s suitability as a marquee show.
Mike Heck, a UFC analyst, noted that the organization’s current business model under the Paramount partnership makes it unlikely that a numbered event would be cancelled, even if the fight card lacks the depth typically expected for a pay-per-view. He added that the main event “feels like a paper title” because Wang Cong’s recent win over a past-prime Tracy Cortez does not, in his view, merit a championship opportunity over other contenders such as Manon Fiorot, Alexa Grasso and Erin Blanchfield.
Jed Meshew argued that the event would be more appropriate as a UFC Fight Night in Salt Lake City, suggesting that a pay-per-view with this lineup might only generate modest buy rates. He described the title fight as “extremely paper” and said the card would likely attract few viewers if marketed as a Fight Night rather than a numbered event.
Damon Martin echoed the sentiment, stating that by standard pay-per-view metrics the card does not qualify, and that Silva’s last finish came over two years ago. He questioned the relevance of Wang Cong’s kickboxing win over Shevchenko as a basis for a title shot.
The analysts also discussed the potential legacy of the eventual champion. Heck said Silva earned her chance but would likely be out-matched by Shevchenko in a future bout, while Meshew compared the situation to previous controversial title reigns, noting that the new champion could be viewed among the lower-ranked champions if they do not defend the belt against top contenders.
Among the undercard fights, Heck highlighted Roberto Soldic’s debut and a bout between Ateba Gautier and Roman Kopylov as noteworthy. Martin pointed to a lightweight clash between King Green and Esteban Ribovics as a potential “Fight of the Year” candidate, and Meshew mentioned the return of former champion Rafael dos Anjos against Alexander Hernandez as an intriguing matchup.
The discussion reflects broader concerns about the UFC’s event scheduling and title legitimacy amid injuries and business considerations.