UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko’s next title defence is being pushed back, but not because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Kyrgyzstan kickboxer was set to face Scotland’s Joanne Calderwood at UFC 251 in Perth, Australia on 6 June.
According to ESPN, the fight’s postponement isn’t due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic; it’s due to a leg injury Shevchenko sustained during her comprehensive victory over Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 247.
Calderwood confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Tuesday.
“We got word last week that it’s going to get pushed back,” Calderwood told MMA Fighting’s Peter Carroll. “Not because of this whole thing [the coronavirus pandemic], but something on her end. I’m not sure if I’m supposed to say that, but we know for sure that it’s not going to be on June 6.
“I don’t know, I’m not sure what happened or what’s what, but it’s been pushed back. It could be a blessing in disguise.”
