Despite late disruption to the card, UFC 324 is shaping up to have major title implications for one of its biggest names. Former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas has confirmed that she has been told a win this weekend will earn her a long-awaited shot at flyweight gold.
The promotion’s first event of 2026 has already been hit by setbacks. Women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison was forced out of her January 24 bout through injury, leading to the cancellation of the co-main event just days before the show. Another high-profile matchup also collapsed when former champion Alexa Grasso withdrew, prompting a late opponent change for Namajunas.
Originally booked to face Grasso, Namajunas will now meet rising flyweight contender Natalia Silva in a pivotal bout in Las Vegas. Silva entered the fight on a seven-fight winning streak and was widely viewed as next in line for a title opportunity.
Speaking ahead of the event, Namajunas revealed she has been told that victory on Saturday will secure her a shot at reigning flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko. While the prospect excites her, it also comes with mixed emotions due to her long-standing admiration for the dominant champion.
“It would be a dream come true, honestly,” Namajunas said. “She’s someone I’ve looked up to for a long time and one of my biggest inspirations. That makes it kind of weird, emotionally, because I’ve always been a fan of hers. But at the same time, this is what we do.”
Namajunas believes the opponent switch may actually benefit her title ambitions. With Silva considered a leading contender, stopping her run would effectively place Namajunas at the front of the queue.
“I feel like this gets me closer to my goal faster,” she explained. “Beating Natalia means a lot right now. With Alexa, even a dominant win, I wasn’t sure where that would leave me.”
After rebounding from a loss to Erin Blanchfield with a win over Miranda Maverick, Namajunas now has a clear incentive at UFC 324: win on Saturday, and a long-anticipated showdown with Shevchenko could finally become reality.
