UFC 324 has a new look after a major shakeup at the top of the card. UFC officials confirmed Wednesday that bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison has suffered an injury that forced her out of her scheduled title fight against Amanda Nunes. The bout has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date, rather than canceled outright.
With Harrison vs. Nunes removed from the lineup, the UFC moved quickly to reshuffle the main card elevating several high-profile matchups into bigger spotlight roles.
The bantamweight clash between Sean O’Malley and Song Yadong has been promoted to the new co-main event slot. O’Malley enters the fight looking to snap a two-fight losing streak after back-to-back defeats to former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. Once the face of the division, “Suga” now finds himself in a must-win scenario to reassert his place among the elite at 135 pounds.
Song, meanwhile, has quietly built momentum, going 3-1 in his last four fights. His only setback during that stretch came against reigning bantamweight king Petr Yan, a loss that did little to slow his rise.
Namajunas vs. Silva Moves to Main Card
Also receiving a late promotion is the women’s flyweight bout between Natalia Silva and former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. Originally scheduled for the prelims, the matchup now lands on the UFC 324 main card. Silva remains undefeated in the UFC at 7-0 and could push herself firmly into title contention with another statement win.
Namajunas, meanwhile, is attempting to stabilize her second run toward gold. She’s gone 3-1 in her past four fights, including wins over Miranda Maverick and Tracy Cortez, as she continues her transition at 125 pounds.
Despite the reshuffling, the main event remains intact and it carries major stakes. Justin Gaethje will headline UFC 324 against Paddy Pimblett, with the winner being crowned interim UFC lightweight champion.
The bout represents a collision of styles and popularity, pairing Gaethje’s proven violence and resume against Pimblett’s meteoric rise and star power. The interim belt adds immediate championship implications to what was already one of the card’s most intriguing matchups.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
