Kayla Harrison Withdraws from UFC 324 After Neck Surgery

Kayla Harrison, the current UFC women’s bantamweight champion, has announced her withdrawal from the highly anticipated UFC 324 fight against Amanda Nunes after undergoing neck surgery. The surgery and recovery process have forced the postponement of what was one of the most awaited women’s bouts in mixed martial arts. Harrison shared an emotional video explaining her situation and expressing gratitude toward her supporters during this difficult time.

Background on the Scheduled Matchup and Event Changes

Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who remains undefeated in MMA, was scheduled to face Amanda Nunes on January 24 in Las Vegas as the co-main event of UFC 324. This event marked the UFC’s first major show of 2026. With Harrison’s withdrawal, the card has lost its headline women’s championship fight, casting doubt on when the matchup might be rescheduled. The UFC has yet to confirm if Nunes will be offered a replacement opponent or when the title bout will take place again.

Harrison’s Explanation and Appreciation for Support

In her video statement, Harrison described the difficulty of the decision and disclosed details about her surgery. She said,

“I had to have surgery on my neck yesterday here in New York City with the 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.”

– Kayla Harrison, UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion

She also took a moment to thank everyone who has supported her, including the UFC staff, medical team, family, and training partners:

“And I just want to thank everyone. I want to thank the UFC for taking such good care of me, Dr. D and Jen and the whole team over there. I want to thank Dr. Kimmy here in New York for seeing me and taking such good care of me. I want to thank my mom, who’s taking care of my kids at home. I want to thank all my coaches at American Top Team and all my teammates,”

she expressed.

Starting the Road to Recovery and Looking Forward

Harrison has begun her rehabilitation process with optimism despite the uncertainty ahead. She stated,

“This is day one of recovery and the road back starts now,”

and added,

“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, so I’m grateful for this. I hope that it brings me closer to Him and that He uses this story in a mighty way. So, that’s it. I’m sorry, guys. I’ll be back soon. I’ll be back soon.”

Impact on UFC 324 Card and Future Prospects

Without the Harrison vs. Nunes fight, UFC 324’s main event features the interim lightweight title bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong has been promoted to co-main event status for the January 24 event in Las Vegas. Fans await further announcements regarding Harrison’s return and the eventual rescheduling of the bantamweight title fight.