Amanda Nunes’ highly anticipated comeback has been delayed after her scheduled opponent, Kayla Harrison, required neck surgery just days before UFC 324. With Harrison sidelined, UFC leadership confirmed that Nunes will not face a replacement, as the promotion intends to wait for Harrison to be fully healthy.
“This fight is the greatest female fight ever,” UFC President Dana White told TMZ. “You can’t just throw somebody else in there. You wait until she’s ready and you do the fight.
“Amanda’s so awesome to work with. I’ve had a great relationship with her since day one. She’s very easy to work with. The surgery went well [for Kayla Harrison]. She should make a full recovery and we should be able to do the fight this year.”
No short notice substitutions for Nunes
Once Harrison’s injury was revealed, UFC removed Nunes from the card despite interest from other ranked bantamweights, including Norma Dumont, who offered to step in on short notice. Nunes, who returned from retirement in 2023 after more than two years away from competition, will continue her comeback once Harrison is cleared to compete.
White emphasized the significance of the matchup and why replacing Harrison is not an option. He reiterated that the timing is unfortunate but necessary, given the historic nature of the fight.
Harrison has not provided a definitive date for her return, though early estimates suggested she might be out for roughly six months following surgery. The UFC has no plans to finalize a new date for the fight until the champion is medically cleared. White expressed confidence that Harrison will make a full recovery and the fight will be rebooked later this year.
The fight would bring together two exceptional athletes. Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, captured the UFC women’s bantamweight title with a submission victory over Julianna Pena. Amanda Nunes is widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters in MMA history.
Rather than rushing the bout with an alternate, UFC plans to keep the matchup intact, ensuring fans see the fight as originally intended.
For now, Nunes continues her training, Harrison focuses on recovery, and UFC leadership prepares to deliver a highly anticipated showdown once both are ready.
