Just ten days before UFC 324, scheduled as the UFC’s inaugural event on Paramount+, the fight card experienced a significant change due to Kayla Harrison’s injury. The anticipated women’s bantamweight title defense featuring Harrison against Amanda Nunes was canceled after Nunes suffered a severe neck injury requiring surgery. Rather than finding a replacement, the UFC decided to postpone the bout, triggering a reshuffle of other fights on the lineup.
Rose Namajunas Promoted to Main Card Following Bout Cancellation
With the removal of Harrison vs Nunes, a vacant main card spot at UFC 324 was filled by Rose Namajunas, originally set to fight on the prelims. Namajunas will now face Natalia Silva in a bout regarded as a potential title eliminator in the strawweight division. This advancement meant that Umar Nurmagomedov’s fight against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo was moved down to the prelims. Sean O’Malley now leads the co-main event against Song Yadong, building up to Paddy Pimblett’s interim lightweight title clash with Justin Gaethje as the main event.
This rearrangement places Namajunas alongside prominent names such as O’Malley, Derrick Lewis, and Arnold Allen on the UFC 324 main card, increasing exposure for the former two-time strawweight champion.
“UFC has now officially confirmed Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes is off and the fight will be rescheduled at a later date The new co-main for #UFC324 is Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong. Here’s the new main card pic.twitter.com/1YQgkemwu2” – Damon Martin, MMA Journalist
Fan Backlash over Umar Nurmagomedov’s Demotion to Prelims
The decision to keep Umar Nurmagomedov’s fight on the prelims sparked widespread frustration among fans on social media. Many viewed his matchup against Deiveson Figueiredo as a high-stakes bantamweight title eliminator deserving main card status. The choice to elevate Rose Namajunas vs. Natalia Silva over Nurmagomedov vs. Figueiredo was heavily criticized, with some calling it a “criminal” oversight.
Supporters of Nurmagomedov argued that his fight holds greater significance and should not be relegated to a less prominent timeslot, especially given its potential implications for the bantamweight division’s future. Some fans speculated that the promotion might have prioritized maintaining a women’s fight on the main card to appeal to viewers on Paramount+. This reasoning did not satisfy many in the UFC community.
“Umar Nurmagomedov vs Figgy on prelims is ridiculous.”
“What a great joke. We’re gonna get stuck with Natalia Silva vs.Namajunas while in the prelims you’ve got Umar and Ateba Gautier lmao.”
“Umar vs Figgy seems like the obvious choice, especially as we’ve left the era of a big fight to end the prelims to sell the card.”
“Umar and Figgy being a #1 contender fight not on the main card is criminal.”
“I can’t see any other explanation for it other than maybe Paramount thought that having at least one women’s fight on the main card was a must.”
“Rose vs Natalia Silva on the main card over Umar vs Figgy is criminal.”
“Rose vs Natalia Silva on the main card over Umar vs Figgy is criminal I’d honestly rather see Ateba Gautier on the main than this WMMA fight” – What A Bet, Fan
Mixed Reactions to the Reshuffled UFC 324 Card
Despite the backlash, some fans expressed acceptance or even approval of the revised fight order. Positive comments highlighted the overall quality of the card and expressed no complaints about the new lineup. Still, dissenting voices described Umar Nurmagomedov as a less exciting fighter, referring to his previous bout against Bautista as lacking action, and questioned whether his style would attract viewers.
“Sounds like a better lineup now.”
“Not sure about that play, but all of these fights are good. No complaints.”
“Umar is BORING, look his fight against Bautista. Nobody wanna see him hug Figgy for 15 minutes. Natalia X Rose is a way better fight.”
Implications of UFC 324 Card Changes and What’s Next
The reorganization of UFC 324 demonstrates how injuries to key fighters like Amanda Nunes cause ripple effects across a major event. While elevating Rose Namajunas’ fight brings more attention to the women’s strawweight division, repositioning Umar Nurmagomedov’s contest raises questions about fight promotion and card prioritization. The intense fan reaction underlines the expectation that high-stakes contender bouts should receive prominent placement to match their significance.
Looking ahead, fans await the rescheduled Harrison vs Nunes fight, while the Bantamweight title eliminator between Nurmagomedov and Figueiredo will carry added weight despite its prelim positioning. How the UFC balances competitive importance with broadcast and promotional considerations on Paramount+ remains a point of discussion as future cards are planned.
UFC has now officially confirmed Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes is off and the fight will be rescheduled at a later date
The new co-main for #UFC324 is Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong. Here’s the new main card pic.twitter.com/1YQgkemwu2
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) January 15, 2026
Rose vs Natalia Silva on the main card over Umar vs Figgy is criminal
I’d honestly rather see Ateba Gautier on the main than this WMMA fight
— What A Bet (@What_a_Bets) January 15, 2026
