Harrison Targets Late 2026 Return For Nunes Fight

Kayla Harrison will fight before the end of 2026, setting up a delayed super fight with Amanda Nunes.

Harrison's manager Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie that the Olympic gold medalist will compete later this year after recovering from neck surgery that scrapped her January title defense. "She will fight this year for sure," Abdelaziz said. "Towards the end of the year, she will fight, but I'm the one honestly, I said, 'You know what? I want you to take your time, don't rush, be healthy.' That's the most important thing for her to do. Why does she need to rush? She's the champion, everybody is chasing her, they have to wait for her."

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Weight Cut Complications Could Force UFC Decision

Harrison went under the knife in January, an injury so severe she was also forced out of the UFC White House card. The 36-year-old champion has struggled to make the 135-pound bantamweight limit throughout her UFC run, and a lengthy layoff could make that cut even more brutal. Harrison recently made clear her future at the weight class is limited, which could force UFC to reopen the featherweight division if it wants to keep the champion active.

Harrison last fought in June 2025, submitting Julianna Pena to capture the bantamweight title. Nunes came out of retirement specifically to challenge her former training partner but has been waiting on the sidelines since defeating Irene Aldana in June 2023. The matchup remains on track for later this year, with Harrison's team prioritizing full recovery over a rushed comeback.

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Photo: Sgt. Christian Brown / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Kayla Harrison’s return timeline for Amanda Nunes super fight revealed | MMA Mania