UFC Bantamweight Champion Withdraws From UFC 324 Co-Main Event
UFC Bantamweight Champion Kayla Harrison has withdrawn from her scheduled co-main event bout against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 due to a significant neck injury requiring surgery, according to reports from The Eagle Tribune and Brazilian MMA reporter Léo Guimaraes.
Harrison underwent surgery this week to address herniated discs in her cervical spine. She is expected to require up to six months of recovery time, putting her out of action for at least the first half of 2026.
Impact on UFC 324
The withdrawal deals a considerable blow to UFC 324, scheduled for January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event marks the UFC’s inaugural card under its new seven-billion-dollar broadcast deal with Paramount.
The Harrison-Nunes matchup was widely anticipated as one of the biggest women’s fights in MMA history. The bout would have featured two dominant champions: the reigning 135-pound titleholder Harrison and Hall of Famer Nunes, widely regarded as the greatest women’s fighter of all time.
Harrison’s UFC Career
The 35-year-old Olympic gold medalist in judo made her UFC debut in 2024 after an accomplished run in the PFL. She claimed the bantamweight title at UFC 316 with a second-round submission victory over Julianna Peña in June 2025, following impressive wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Viera.
UFC 324 Main Event Stands
While the co-main event has been scrapped, UFC 324’s headliner remains intact. Justin Gaethje will face Paddy Pimblett in an interim lightweight title bout. The card also features Sean O’Malley against Song Yadong and several other high-profile matchups.
It remains unclear whether the UFC will attempt to reschedule the Harrison-Nunes bout or pursue alternative arrangements for both fighters when they return to competition.
