Kayla Harrison’s first UFC bantamweight title defense is officially on hold and one of her longtime rivals isn’t buying the timing. UFC officials confirmed that Kayla Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has withdrawn from her scheduled Jan. 24 title defense against Amanda Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena after suffering a neck injury that required surgery. The fight was slated to air live on Paramount+.
Rather than replacing Harrison, the UFC has opted to postpone the matchup entirely, keeping the highly anticipated clash intact for a later date.
The withdrawal quickly drew commentary from former UFC and Bellator champion Cris Cyborg, who has long accused Harrison of joining the UFC to avoid a showdown with her. Cyborg questioned whether Harrison’s continued cut to 135 pounds is sustainable and whether it played a role in the champion’s latest setback.
“You have to wonder if @KaylaH is more durable at 145,” Cyborg wrote. “I can’t imagine these cuts to 135 being a sustainable career.”
Harrison built much of her pre-UFC résumé competing at lightweight and featherweight, making her bantamweight run one of the most scrutinized aspects of her transition to the promotion.
UFC Declines Replacement Fight
Despite multiple fighters volunteering to step in including Julianna Peña and Norma Dumont the UFC elected not to book an interim replacement bout.
The promotion’s decision keeps the focus squarely on Harrison vs. Nunes, a matchup viewed internally as one of the biggest women’s fights the UFC can make.
Cyborg also floated an alternative path for Nunes, who has been away from competition for roughly two-and-a-half years. Drawing a comparison to boxing, she suggested the former two-division champion might benefit from a warm-up bout before jumping straight into a title fight.
“In boxing @Amanda_Leoa would get a tune-up fight to shake off retirement before facing top competition,” Cyborg wrote. “Now that Judo Kayla is out of her fight, does Nunes look to fight after a full camp and to give herself an opportunity to shake the ring rust before Kayla’s return?”
Whether the UFC entertains that idea remains unclear, but the suggestion underscores the uncertainty surrounding both fighters’ timelines.
What Comes Next?
For now, Harrison’s recovery and return date will dictate the future of the bantamweight division. The neck surgery raises legitimate questions about durability at 135 pounds questions that rivals like Cyborg are more than willing to amplify.
As for Nunes, the ball may soon be in her court: wait for Harrison’s return, or take another fight to reestablish momentum before the biggest test of her comeback. Either way, the tension surrounding this matchup isn’t cooling off it’s only evolving.
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
