LAS VEGAS — The highly anticipated showdown between Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison, set for January 24 at UFC 324 and widely touted as the most significant women’s MMA fight in history, has been officially postponed for at least six months.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Harrison, the reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champion, underwent surgery in New York on Tuesday to repair herniated discs in her neck. The surgery came after Harrison flew to New York last weekend to consult with UFC doctors, who recommended the procedure.
The setback comes just as the sport was gearing up for a historic clash. Nunes, often called the greatest women’s MMA fighter of all time, had come out of retirement specifically to face Harrison. Nunes, a native of Pojuca, Bahia, Brazil, retired following her June 2023 win but said she was drawn back to competition by the prospect of facing Harrison.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist (2012, 2016), claimed the UFC bantamweight title in June 2025 by submitting Julianna Pena. Harrison’s MMA record stands at 19-1, her only loss coming by decision to Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL lightweight tournament final. Since joining the UFC in 2025, Harrison has notched three straight victories.
It was a co-main event for UFC 324 with Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title now the headline event.
Nunes and Harrison’s paths have long seemed destined to cross. Nunes fought Pena twice, losing by submission in December 2021 before avenging that defeat with a decision victory in their July 2022 rematch.
Harrison, who built her MMA career after relocating from the Merrimack Valley to Florida, where she founded her own gym and adopted her sister’s two children, has become one of the sport’s most compelling figures.
The fight will be rescheduled for a date at least six months from now, according to the source, allowing Harrison time for rehabilitation and a full training camp.
Nunes, speaking recently to Paramount, acknowledged the inevitability of the matchup: “One year passed by and I was kind of looking at Nina around the house like ‘Nina, I cannot stay away. I can’t. I tried so hard for one year. The thoughts started and Kayla signed with the UFC. This is just meant to be. So everything’s coming together.”
While the postponement is a disappointment for fans, the prospect of a fully healthy Harrison facing Nunes ensures the stakes—and anticipation—will only continue to build.
According to oddmakers, Harrison was a slight favorite to beat Nunes.