The UFC’s first event of 2026 remains to be a robust begin to the yr despite some cancellations.
Details of Kayla Harrison’s injury show that the ladies’s bantamweight champion had no alternative but to withdraw from January 24.
The co-main event being canceled shortly before the promotion’s debut on Paramount+ was actually an enormous blow to the cardboard.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t the one change that UFC 324 has undergone, with a matchup between two former champions falling through after it was announced.
Considered one of the fighters involved within the substitute bout has now claimed that they’re still competing for a title shot this Saturday despite a change of opponent.
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Now that Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes is off, which UFC 324 fight are you looking forward to essentially the most? 🤔
Rose Namajunas has been told she’ll face Valentina Shevchenko if she wins at UFC 324
Rose Namajunas defeated Miranda Maverick last outing to bounce back from a loss to Erin Blanchfield in 2024.
The previous two-time strawweight champion was originally set to tackle the previous holder of the 125-pound belt, Alexa Grasso, this Saturday in Las Vegas.
Grasso’s withdrawal led to #2-ranked contender Natalia Silva taking her place with the intention to keep ‘Thug’ Rose on the cardboard in a big flyweight bout.
Ahead of the fight, Namajunas has spoken a few potential clash with Valentina Shevchenko before telling Ariel Helwani that she’s been told she is going to get a shot on the champion if she wins on January 24.
The 33-year-old isn’t on one of the best run but she presents an enormous name and a brand new challenge for the dominant flyweight champion.
Namajunas said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show that while it will be a “dream come true” to face among the best ever, it will be “weird” because of her friendship with Shevchenko.
“I’d wish to have a conversation about it and talk together with her first and every little thing like that because she’s any individual that inspired me and I’ve looked as much as,” she said. “It might definitely be conflicting emotions but at the identical time, I’m right down to do it but at the identical time, I also understand if there’d be second thoughts.
“We’ll cross that bridge once we get to it but truthfully, just as a fan of hers, she’s literally my favorite female fighter for real so it will be so weird because obviously I’d never wish to see her lose but then I might need to go right into a fight and check out to beat her.”
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Should Rose Namajunas be next in line for a shot at Valentina Shevchenko if she wins at UFC 324?
‘Thug Rose’ has won three of her five flyweight fights since moving up from strawweight.
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Rose Namajunas believes that things worked out well for her heading into UFC 324
Rose Namajunas admitted that while she was looking forward to facing Alexa Grasso, her substitute matchup for UFC 324 comes with more profit.
Many believed that Natalia Silva can be next to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title.
Due to this fact, if Namajunas is capable of halt her opponent’s seven-fight win streak contained in the Octagon, she’ll likely take that spot from the Brazilian.
“I’m definitely happier with the changeup because I feel like I catch up with to my goal faster with Natalia, versus like Alexa,” Namajunas said on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Even with a dominant performance against Alexa, I don’t know where that will have left me in the combo.”
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