Ketlen Vieira Forced Out of UFC Fight Night 234 Match Against Macy Chiasson

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is down one top contender match for its first card of 2024.

The promotion announced on Friday that the bantamweight pairing between Ketlen Vieira (14-3) and Macy Chiasson (8-3) will no longer be taking place at UFC Fight Night 234. The UFC noted that the fight had been canceled due to an undisclosed injury, while stating that Chiasson will not receive a replacement opponent on this card. According to multiple Instagram Stories on Vieira’s account, she appears to have suffered an injury to her left knee requiring frequent icing and treatment, while stating that “soon we will be back 100% God willing.”

“Fenomeno” was aiming to start the year off strong, looking to get back on a win streak following a decision victory over Pannie Kianzad in July. Dating back to 2020, the Brazilian has gone the distance in every match, win or lose. Vieira has faced many of the top names in her division, besting most of them including an impressive back-to-back series of wins over Miesha Tate and Holly Holm—although the latter came via contentious split decision.

Chiasson is still looking to get back in the cage after a shocking loss to Irene Aldana in September 2022. Chiasson succumbed to an upkick from Aldana off her back, striking the body perfectly to record the first knockout of its type in company history. Since 2020, Chiasson had recorded decision wins over Shanna Young, Marion Reneau and Norma Dumont, while losing by stoppage to Raquel Pennington and the aforementioned Aldana.

UFC Fight Night 234 will carry on with 12 bouts at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Jan. 13, with the headliner of Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker at 205 pounds still intact. The co-main attraction will see Matheus Nicolau run it back with Manel Kape. Additional fights on the main card billing include a lightweight clash of Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benitez and a bantamweight battle pitting Ricky Simon against Mario Bautista.