Breaking: Kayla Harrison’s title showdown with Amanda Nunes is off the UFC 324 schedule. Harrison underwent surgery to repair herniated discs in her neck. The bout, billed as a landmark for women’s MMA, is postponed without a new date.
UFC 324 loses its planned title headliner as Harrison recovers from neck surgery. No timetable has been set.
The Fight Is Off, For Now
This was the circle-your-calendar fight. A former two-division champion in Nunes. A dominant new force in Harrison. Two proven finishers with very different paths to greatness.
The medical reality takes priority. Neck procedures demand patience, even for elite athletes. The risk is too high to rush. The UFC has removed the fight from the 324 lineup while Harrison begins recovery.
For fans, this is a gut punch. For the division, it is a pause on a defining moment. The matchup will wait. The stakes will not shrink.
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Why This Matchup Loomed So Large
Harrison brings world-class judo, brutal top control, and a pace that breaks opponents. She has transitioned from the PFL to the UFC with authority. Her grappling threat changes every exchange. One mistake on the feet can turn into two minutes on the mat.
Nunes is the greatest women’s fighter to do it. Power in both hands. Kicks with purpose. A complete game that silences crowds and settles debates. She can wrestle when needed. She can walk opponents down and take their heart.
The intrigue sat in the clash of strengths. Could Harrison drag Nunes into deep grappling waters. Could Nunes deny entries, punish takedown attempts, and keep the fight in the center. That tension made the fight feel historic. It still does.
The UFC is expected to rework the UFC 324 card while waiting on a new date for the title fight.
UFC 324 Needs A New Centerpiece
This card was built around star power. With the title bout gone, the UFC must elevate a new headliner or add a replacement bout. That decision shapes ticket value, broadcast plans, and the event’s identity.
The promotion has a few options. It can bump a strong co-main into the top slot. It can slide in a title fight from another division. Or it can assemble a high-profile, short-notice matchup that sells action and stakes.
Two priorities will guide the choice. First, keep the event’s momentum. Second, protect the integrity of the postponed title fight. A worthy main event now, and a massive rebooking later, is the balance the UFC will try to strike.
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What Comes Next For Nunes And Harrison
Nunes’s decision tree
Nunes had circled this return. Her camp designed a peak for Harrison’s style. Now she faces a strategic call. Does she wait for Harrison, or take an interim fight to stay sharp.
Possible pathways for Nunes:
- Sit tight and hold for the rebooked title date.
- Accept a top contender to keep the engine warm.
- Push for an interim belt if timing drifts too far.
A tune-up is tempting, but risky. One cut, one injury, and everything shifts again. Waiting protects the super fight. Competing preserves rhythm. Either choice has merit for a champion who has done it all.
Harrison’s recovery clock
Neck surgery is serious. Recovery timelines vary widely. Strength returns before timing. Timing returns before trust. Only then do five-round demands make sense. Expect a careful ramp-up, not a sprint.
Neck rehabilitation can look smooth, then stall. The only smart plan is the patient one.
Harrison’s style relies on clinch entries, level changes, and heavy pressure from top position. All of that runs through the neck and upper back. The coaching staff will rebuild her from the core out. Once she clears full contact, the gas tank comes next. Then the game plans resume.
The women’s landscape
This delay opens doors for contenders who want a piece of the spotlight. A strong win on a retooled UFC 324 could reshape pecking orders. Veterans know this is when rankings move. The UFC may also weigh an interim option if the timeline stretches, giving the division active stakes while the big one waits.
For the sport, the significance remains. Harrison versus Nunes is still the kind of fight that shifts how fans talk about eras. Postponed does not mean diminished. In some cases, it builds a bigger stage.
The Bottom Line
The title fight many called the biggest in women’s MMA is paused, not canceled. Harrison is on the mend after neck surgery. Nunes is in limbo, but not idle. The UFC will recalibrate UFC 324 now, and aim to deliver a larger moment later. When these two finally touch gloves, the wait will make the bell sound even louder.
