The highly anticipated UFC 324 event has been thrown into disarray by a last-minute twist: Kayla Harrison's withdrawal from her highly touted bantamweight title defense against Amanda Nunes. This setback comes as a shock to fans, who were eagerly awaiting the clash of these women's MMA powerhouses. The fight was set to be a pivotal moment in the sport, with Harrison, a two-time PFL tournament winner, and Nunes, a seven-year dominant force in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions, finally meeting in the Octagon.
The cancellation is due to Harrison's recent herniated disc in her neck, which requires surgery. Initially, she sought treatment in New York, but the diagnosis led to her much-anticipated bout being called off. The UFC is now scrambling to reschedule the fight, but a new date has yet to be confirmed. This development is a significant blow to the event, which was set to be the UFC's inaugural numbered event under the new broadcasting partnership with Paramount+.
The main event, an interim lightweight title fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, remains intact. However, the highly anticipated bantamweight clash between Sean O'Malley and Song Ya Dong will now take center stage as the new co-main event. This high-stakes bout was initially a supporting act, but now it's poised to become the focal point of the card.
Before the postponement, Dana White hailed the Harrison-Nunes fight as 'the greatest women's fight of all time.' Nunes, a two-time PFL tournament winner, was set to make her comeback after a year-long hiatus, during which she had been tempted back into the sport by the prospect of facing Harrison, widely regarded as the best female fighter outside of the UFC.
Nunes, in a recent interview, expressed her eagerness to return, saying, 'One year passed by, and I was kind of looking at Nina [Ansarov] around the house like 'Nina, I cannot stay away.' 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.'
The relationship between Nunes and Harrison is complex. They once trained together at the American Top Team gym in Florida, but Nunes left in 2021 after losing her bantamweight crown to Juliana Pena. Now, Nunes trains at her own personal gym, guided by Din Thomas, while Harrison continues to train at ATT.
The cancellation of the Harrison-Nunes fight leaves a void in the UFC's plans for 324. Despite the setback, the event is expected to proceed with the remaining fights, albeit with a different main event. The UFC's ability to quickly reschedule the highly anticipated bout will be a test of its resilience and adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges.
