Kayla Harrison Returns After Neck Surgery to Face Amanda Nunes at UFC 334

Kayla Harrison will return to the UFC after neck surgery to defend her women’s bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes on Nov. 14 at UFC 334, Madison Square Garden, New York. The Kayla Harrison Amanda Nunes fight was originally scheduled for Jan. 24 at UFC 324, the promotion’s Paramount launch event, but Harrison withdrew due to a serious neck injury that required surgery and nearly a year of recovery.

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Injury and Symptoms

Harrison, 36, had five herniated discs in her neck, with two discs completely blocking nerves. The injury was not caused by a single incident but was the accumulation of damage over a lifetime of combat. She had been managing discs for some time, but in December her symptoms worsened: numbness down her arm, loss of feeling in three fingers, loss of strength in her right arm, and sharp, lightning-like pains. A January MRI revealed the nerve blockage.

Treatments and Surgery

Initially, Harrison did not want surgery. She tried stem cells, anti-inflammatories, arthritis medication, pain pills, nerve pain pills, muscle relaxers, and physical therapy. She also received an epidural shot for pain. But a UFC specialist in New York warned her that she risked permanent damage or paralysis. The pain became so severe that Harrison went five days barely sleeping. She underwent surgery, and the nerve pain was relieved immediately. She wore a neck brace for eight weeks and could not lift more than 20 pounds during recovery. Muscle and bone healing took longer. Only a few months ago did she start feeling 100%. She still has two herniated discs to address after her career.

Mental Struggle

Harrison admitted she questioned whether she would fight again. She said she might have been done. She described being devastated to miss the fight and felt like she fumbled at the one-yard line. She expressed gratitude to her team for prioritizing her health and said she trusted God during recovery. She was humbled by the experience. Now, she says, she is back.

Rebooked Fight

The fight against Nunes was rebooked for Nov. 14 at UFC 334. Harrison has not fought since June 2025, when she won the bantamweight title by submitting Julianna Peña with a second-round kimura. That victory improved her career record to 19-1 in 20 fights since she began in June 2018. This is the longest inactive stretch of her career.

Future and Retirement

Harrison said she might have retired if Nunes had not returned. Nunes, a former American Top Team teammate and all-time great, came out of retirement to make the fight possible. Harrison said this could be the last fight for both. She is satisfied with her career and could walk away tomorrow with peace. She said she does not ever have to fight again, and anything is possible regarding her future. But she wants to fight Nunes as a worthy opponent. The fight, she said, is for her.