Kayla Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) secured the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship last June in Newark, NJ at UFC 316. That night, in her third UFC promotional appearance, she finished Julianna Pena (11-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) with a kimura submission in the second round.
The Middletown, OH product wasted little time in calling up her next opponent in the legendary Octagon. During her post-fight interview with comedian and UFC analyst Joe Rogan, she challenged Amanda Nunes, who was present at UFC 316, to a fight.
Amanda Nunes (23-5 MMA, 16-2 UFC) was Kayla Harrison’s one-time teammate on American Top Team, as well as a friend of the current 135 lbs champion. Before UFC 316 in the spring, Nunes expressed interest in suspending her retirement from the competition for the chance to fight the winner of the Kayla Harrison vs. Julianna Pena fight.
Embed from Getty Images
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes confirmed during NFL today Halftime segment on Thanksgiving
During halftime coverage of the Thanksgiving Day NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys on CBS Sports, UFC CEO Dana White announced the main and co-main events for the Jan. 24 UFC 324 on Paramount Plus. It is the first UFC event scheduled for 2026 and the first event of the upcoming seven-year deal between the UFC and Paramount Skydance.
In Dana White’s hit The NFL Today, he revealed that the Harrison vs. Nunes tilt for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship would serve as the co-main event of the evening. In your main event of UFC 324, the UFC Interim Lightweight Championship will be on the line.
No. 4 contender Justin Gaethje (26-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) meets No. 5 contender Paddy Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the headliner. Both title fights will last a maximum of five rounds of five minutes each in the T-Mobile Arena.
Kayla Harrison isn’t upset about her co-main event status at UFC 324 in January
Most fighters booked for the co-main event of a flagship event like UFC 324 wouldn’t be too thrilled if they knew they would be fighting for a permanent championship before a fight for an interim championship would take place as the main event. Not Kayla Harrison.
Given Harrison’s comments on Monday’s episode The Ariel Helwani Show, she is taking the placement of her fight against Nunes at UFC 324 well.
“It’s not about me,” Kayla Harrison began, “and it’s not about Amanda [Nunes]I think it’s about the [women’s bantamweight] belt. That should mean something.”
Harrison also said she is honored to share the stage with Gaethje at the end of January.
“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m a big fan of Justin Gaethje.”
Kayla Harrison’s thoughts on the co-main event slot continue
After some strong comments from Helwani about the UFC 324 main event being an interim championship at lightweight, Harrison reiterated her stance on fighting in the co-main attraction in Vegas next month.
“I agree that these things matter,” Kayla Harrison said. “Do I care? Not in the way it matters to you. I’ve been patiently waiting for a date to confirm that this fight is going to happen. So the order of the fight is irrelevant to me. I’m just being honest. I joke all the time saying, ‘I would fight in the prelims,’ just because it works better for the time I go to bed. I’m a mom. I’m in bed by 9 p.m.”
Kayla Harrison on facing Amanda Nunes in Latter’s return from retirement
It’s been more than two years since Amanda Nunes fought inside the Octagon, after retiring as UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion following UFC 289 in Vancouver in June 2023. As previously mentioned, Kayla Harrison was Amanda Nunes’ former teammate on American Top Team.
Harrison said she has a single goal in mind for the former champion’s return.
“Right now the focus is on Amanda,” she said. “January 24th the GOAT will be dethroned.” She also said there is no animosity between the two ahead of the fight in the new year.
“I don’t really feel anything personal,” Kayla Harrison noted. “There were two people who had my name associated with them before I had an MMA fight, and they were Amanda Nunes and Cris Cyborg. I’m living my dreams now. I started MMA eight years ago. The goal was to become the best and see how high I could climb, to see if I could reach that level. I’m here and I’m living my dreams.”
Final thoughts
You could make a case for both title fights being the main event of UFC 324 in the second half of January, but Kayla Harrison has said it doesn’t matter where she fights. For her, all that matters is that she fights next month.
She certainly has a positive attitude. This is the kind of fight you want to get your popcorn ready for before the cage door closes.
You don’t want to miss a second of this match. While it will be the first title fight of 2026 in the UFC, it could be a strong contender for the best title fight in the UFC of 2026 this time next year.
#Kayla #Harrison #slighted #costarring #role #exciting