Neck
surgery has forced Kayla Harrison out of UFC 324. |
Getty/UFC
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s debut event on Paramount+ has
taken a significant hit.
According to a report from the Eagle Tribune, Kayla
Harrison has been forced to withdraw from the UFC 324
co-main event against Amanda
Nunes on Jan. 24 to undergo surgery to repair herniated discs
in her neck. Harrison reportedly sought treatment in New York ahead
of the fight, but doctors determined that surgery was a necessity.
Harrison vs. Nunes is expected to be rebooked at an undetermined
date in the future. Sherdog.com confirmed Harrison’s exit with a
source close to the situation.
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The women’s bantamweight title bout was one of the two featured
fights — along with an interim lightweight championship clash
between Justin
Gaethje and Paddy
Pimblett — anchoring the UFC 324 lineup, which marks the
beginning of the promotion’s broadcast partnership on Paramount+.
UFC CEO Dana White recently touted Harrison vs. Nunes as “the
greatest women’s fight of all time.” Harrison and Nunes were former
training partners at
American Top Team before “Lioness” exited the Florida-based
gym.
A Tantalizing Matchup on Hold
Harrison rose to prominence in
Professional Fighters League, where she captured championships
at 145 and 155 pounds before signing with the UFC in 2024. The
Olympic gold medalist began her Octagon tenure with victories over
Holly
Holm and Ketlen
Vieira before claiming 135-pound gold with a submission of
Julianna
Pena at UFC 316.
A former UFC two-division champion, Nunes is widely regarded as the
greatest women’s mixed martial artist of all-time. She announced
her retirement following a unanimous decision triumph over Irene
Aldana at UFC 289 in June 2023. The 37-year-old Brazilian has
earned notable victories over the likes of Pena, Germaine
de Randamie (twice), Holm, Cristiane
Justino, Valentina
Shevchenko (twice), Ronda
Rousey and Miesha Tate
over the course of her pro career.