According to a new report, the currently injured Valentina Shevchenko had to be talked into vacating her flyweight title by UFC officials due to their need to have a belt on the line for this past weekend’s UFC 332 event in Salt Lake City.

Long-time reporter Ariel Helwani sounded out his sources to find out the truth behind Shevchenko stepping away from the belt and discovered that she was reluctant to loosen her grip on it.

“Does she have a lingering injury, yes,” Helwani said on The Ariel Helwani show yesterday. “If the UFC would have had another title fight for October 3, would she still be champion, yes.

“Did she willingly give up that belt, no. Absolutely not.

“They needed a title fight. They said we’ll do right by you when you come back, you’ll get the title fight.”

The 38-year-old Shevchenko hasn’t spoken out yet to clarify the situation from her own point of view, but she did graciously congratulate Natalia Silva for winning the vacant title on Saturday night, while warning her that she’d be coming back for it in due course.

“Well deserved Natalia! Congratulations!” Shevchenko had wrote to Silva. “It’s my pleasure to know that UFC Champion’s belt is now holding deserving martial artist—such as you are!

“But don’t get too comfortable—keep it warm, I’m coming soon for my belt!”