Kayla Harrison and her manager each expressed doubt over Amanda Nunes’ comeback.
Disaster has struck for the reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champion just 10 days out from her scheduled first defense of the title.
After Harrison dethroned Julianna Pena via submission last June, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was booked for a long-awaited grudge match along with her former American Top Team stablemate, the returning women’s GOAT Amanda Nunes.
But while that was set to co-headline the primary event of 2026, UFC 324, Harrison is out of the Nunes fight after suffering a severe neck injury that required surgery.
The champ’s team had actually been anticipating a possible cancellation, but they didn’t expect to be on the side causing it…
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Kayla Harrison and Ali Abdelaziz doubted Amanda Nunes would show up at UFC 324
The canceled fight on January 24 would have marked Nunes’ first bout since retiring within the aftermath of her successful bantamweight title defense against Irene Aldana in June 2023.
Given her long layoff and time away from cutting weight, Harrison was not convinced Nunes would achieve dropping the kilos and questioned if she would make it to UFC 324.
“I’m not convinced she makes 135 kilos. I’m not fearful but I’ve definitely (considered it),” Harrison said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“We’ve seen her pull out of essential events before, we’ve seen her have issues and struggles.
“So I’m mentally preparing for me to be disciplined and do my job and her to not,” she added.
That got here after similar remarks from her manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who was even firmer along with his prediction that Nunes would pull out.
“I don’t know if Amanda will show up,” Abdelaziz said on Submission Radio. “That’s why I used to be asking the UFC, ‘Please have a backup.’
“I don’t know if she’s going to actually make the burden, make the cut. It’s really hard, especially while you make a complete bunch of cash.
“She is coming back because she missed the eye,” he continued. “She just isn’t getting attention anywhere else, and she or he hates that Kayla is getting all the eye that she used to.”
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Amanda Nunes has a alternative option for UFC 324
It stays to be seen how the UFC is responding to losing the co-main event and certainly one of two title fights that were set for January 24.
While it’s expected that the matchup between Harrison and Nunes will probably be postponed for later within the 12 months, the promotion does have an option in the event that they are considering the creation of an interim women’s bantamweight title.
Norma Dumont has offered to exchange Harrison against Nunes, per MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz on X. The Brazilian contender is ranked No. 3 within the division and has won her last six fights.
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