Kayla Harrison has reportedly withdrawn from her UFC bantamweight title defence against Amanda Nunes.
The women’s MMA titans were set to square off in the UFC 324 co-feature attraction on January 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Harrison vs Nunes will be rescheduled for a later date[/caption]
However, according to the Eagle Tribune, Harrison has been forced to pull out of the bout after herniating a disc in her neck.
Harrison initially flew to New York to seek treatment, but she was subsequently informed by doctors that she would have to undergo surgery, resulting in her much-anticipated fight collapsing.
The UFC is expected to re-book the bout for a later date, although a timeline hasn’t been drawn up as of yet.
It marks a significant loss for the blockbuster Sin City card, which is set to be the UFC’s first numbered event under new broadcaster Paramount+.
Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje top the bill in an interim lightweight title fight, while Sean O’Malley and Song Ya Dong meet in a high-stakes bantamweight clash that will be the frontrunner to fill the now-vacant chief support slot.
Before its postponement, Dana White had branded Harrison vs Nunes, ‘the greatest women’s fight of all time’.
The bout was due to be Nunes’ comeback to the sport after hanging up her gloves in 2023, following a seven-year reign of dominance over the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.
A year after Nunes called time on her career, two-time PFL tournament winner Harrison signed for the UFC and went on to submit ‘The Lioness’s’ long-time rival Juliana Pena to claim the 135lbs title in June.
Harrison has long been hailed as the best female fighter outside of MMA’s premier promotion, and the opportunity to further cement her status as the GWOAT tempted Nunes back into the Octagon.
“One year passed by, and I was kind of looking at Nina [Ansarov] around the house like ‘Nina, I cannot stay away,’” Nunes told Paramount.
“I can’t. I tried so hard for one year.
“The thoughts started [being stronger], and Kayla signed with the UFC.
“This is just meant to be. So everything’s coming together.”
Nunes and Harrison once called each other teammates when they both trained out of the American Top Team gym in Florida.
But while Harrison still trains at ATT, Nunes left the facility in 2021 after losing her bantamweight crown to Pena.
The Brazilian superstar now trains out of her own personal gym under the guidance of Din Thomas.
