Kayla Harrison announced she underwent neck surgery, leading to her withdrawal from UFC 324, originally scheduled for January 24 in Las Vegas. The surgery prevents the two-time Olympic gold medalist and current UFC bantamweight champion from competing against Amanda Nunes, one of the most eagerly anticipated matchups in women’s MMA.
Details of the Surgery and Recovery Update
On Thursday, Harrison shared a video confirming that she had neck surgery the previous day in New York. Emotionally uncertain about her future, she expressed her apologies to Amanda Nunes and described the procedure as
“
day one of recovery and the road back starts now,
”
signaling the beginning of a long rehabilitation process.
Harrison’s Elevated MMA Career and UFC Title Achievements
At 35, Kayla Harrison is renowned for winning gold medals in Judo at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts. She quickly made her mark in MMA, gaining prominence as a two-time tournament winner in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) with a 16-1 record before joining the UFC. Harrison secured her UFC bantamweight title by defeating Julianna Peña at UFC 315 last June after victories over Aspen Ladd, Holly Holm, and Ketlen Vieira.
Context of the Canceled Bout and UFC 324 Headliner
Amanda Nunes, who retired in 2023, was set to return to face Harrison in what was expected to be one of the biggest women’s MMA fights in history, further intensifying the disappointment surrounding Harrison’s withdrawal. UFC 324 will still proceed with a headline lightweight interim title fight featuring Justin Gaethje versus Paddy Pimblett.
Impact on MMA and Harrison’s Future Prospects
Harrison’s neck surgery and subsequent recovery leave uncertainty about her return to competition, potentially affecting key dynamics within the UFC bantamweight division. Her journey back to fighting shape will be closely followed by fans and analysts alike, as her health and readiness will determine the timing of her next fight and the future landscape of women’s MMA.
My UFC 324 update. #kaylaharrison #ufc324 pic.twitter.com/p5KDtOpGhk
— Kayla Harrison Official (@KaylaH) January 15, 2026
