Featured Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Topics: UFC, MMA, Amanda Nunes, Sean O'Malley, Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett
Ben McCrum
Topics: UFC, MMA, Amanda Nunes, Sean O'Malley, Justin Gaethje, Paddy Pimblett
The UFC have released an official statement addressing rumours that the championship bout between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes is off.
After a month-long break, the UFC will finally return on January 25 for the first card of 2026 and of the MMA organisation's new $7.7 billion US broadcast partnership with Paramaount+.
The UFC 324 card will be headlined by an interim lightweight title bout between Justin Gaethje and popular star Paddy Pimblett, with several other big fighters set to feature.
However, just days away from the event, rumours emerged online suggesting that women's bantamweight champion Harrison had suffered a neck injury ruling her out of her fight with UFC legend Nunes in the co-main event.
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And now, the UFC have finally addressed the rumours in an official statement confirming a major change to their first card of the year.
Initial rumours suggesting Harrison had been injured emerged on Wednesday afternoon, with reports claiming that the 35-year-old had undergone surgery in New York to repair herniated discs in her neck.
It's been claimed that the injury will leave the bantamweight champion sidelined for at least six months, with the highly-anticipated card set to take place at The White House a potential return date.
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And now, the UFC have confirmed that fight has been delayed due to Harrision's injury in an an official statement published on the organisation's website.
It read: "Due to injury with Kayla Harrison, the championship bout against Amanda Nunes has been postponed to a later date.
"The new co-main event will feature the all-action matchup between former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley and top contender Song Yadong."
With the men's bantamweight bout between O'Malley and Yadong set to replace Harrison v Nunes as the co-main event of the card, the UFC appear to have put to bed any chance that Nunes could remain on the card in a fight with a late replacement opponent.
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However, that hasn't stopped several notable fighters from putting their hand up to step forward and fight Nunes on short notice.
The first name that emerged as a potential replacement for Harrison was former women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, who reacted to the rumours by sharing a picture of her training in a t-shirt advertising a rematch with Nunes.
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Cyborg lost her title to Nunes when the pair fought in December 2018 and has since gone on an unbeaten run, winning nine fights and claiming the PFL Women's Featherweight World Championship.
Multiple weight boxing world champion Amanda Serrano also put herself forward as a replacement opponent, despite the fact that she has only competed in three professional MMA fights, winning two.
Posting on X, she wrote: "If UFC and Amanda Nunes are thinking of a replacement, I would love the challenge as I’m still in fight shape. Hope the champ recovers well."