Kayla Harrison has opened up about the heartbreak of having to withdraw from the co-main event at UFC 324 next week.
UFC bantamweight champion Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) had been scheduled to face Amanda Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) at the first UFC event of 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 24. The bout would have marked “The Lioness’s” first appearance inside the Octagon in two and a half years.
News emerged on Wednesday that the former Olympic judo gold medalist suffered a neck injury and will therefore be unable to compete.
“Yeah, this is a tough one,” Harrison said in a video posted to her Instagram account. “I had to have surgery on my neck yesterday here in New York City with a specialist, Dr. Kim. So in lieu of that, obviously we're going to have to reschedule the fight. And I just want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry to Amanda. (I) was really looking forward to it.”
Former PFL champion Harrison had taken the UFC bantamweight division by storm since signing with the promotion in 2024. Wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira led to her earning a title shot in June of last year, where she submitted Julianna Pena to win the 135-pound belt once held by Nunes.
This led to Nunes announcing her decision to come out of retirement and the pair even faced off inside the Octagon in the immediate aftermath of Harrison’s title victory at UFC 316. For now, it seems fans will have to wait a little longer to see the pair square off again.
“This is day one of recovery and the road back starts now,” Harrison said. “I don't know God's plans. I know he knows that this is my dream, so I gotta praise him in the mountains and I gotta praise him in the valleys. And so I'm grateful for this. We'll be right back. I hope that it brings me closer to him and that he uses this story in a mighty way. Yeah. That's it. I'm sorry, guys. I'll be back soon.”
