Outside Source
Harrison was scheduled to defend her women’s bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 on Saturday in Las Vegas. However, Harrison pulled out of the fight to undergo neck surgery to address herniated disc issues.
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Manager Ali Abdelaziz recently revealed that Harrison hasn’t been 100% healthy for the last three years. A tingling sensation in her neck made it difficult for Harrison to even lift her arm. The UFC flew Harrison to New York, where doctors told her that she risked paralysis if she didn’t undergo immediate surgery. Harrison immediately chose surgery, which was performed by Dr. Han Jo Kim. Abdelaziz revealed that Harrison’s pain disappeared immediately after the surgery.
An Ongoing Issue
“Kayla’s not been 100% for the last three years,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. Since her PFL days, she always had tingling. She couldn’t lift her arm… The UFC flew her to New York, and the doctors said she immediately needs surgery because if she doesn’t get surgery, it could paralyze her. But immediately after the surgery, all the pain is gone.”
Harrison (19-1) parted ways with the Professional Fighters League and signed with the UFC in 2024. Harrison earned a title shot after just two UFC wins. The Olympic gold medallist judoka submitted Julianna Pena to win the vacant UFC women’s bantamweight title last year. The UFC plans to rebook Harrison’s title defense against Nunes after the champ recovers.
Ali Abdelaziz reveals Kayla Harrison’s neck injury could have paralyzed her if it wasn’t treated in time 😬⚠️
“The UFC flew her to New York, and the doctors said she immediately needs surgery because if she doesn’t get surgery, she could get paralyzed. But immediately after the… pic.twitter.com/bczjSbArUD
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 20, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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