Amanda Serrano is ready to replace Kayla Harrison.
The highly anticipated Paramount+ premiere of the UFC on Jan. 24 took a huge hit after reigning bantamweight queen Kayla Harrison announced she was out of her UFC 324 clash with Amanda Nunes.
Just over a week before the event, the two-time Olympic gold medalist revealed that she recently underwent neck surgery, forcing the promotion to postpone the most anticipated fight in women’s MMA history.
“This is a tough one,” Harrison said in an emotional video Instagram. “I had to have surgery on my neck yesterday here in New York City with the specialist, Dr. Kim. So instead, obviously, we’re going to have to reschedule the fight. And I just want to say I’m sorry, I’m sorry for Amanda. I was really looking forward to it.”
Amanda Serrano is ready to step in and replace Harrison at UFC 324
It’s unclear whether or not the UFC will look for a replacement for Nunes’ return fight, but if ‘The Lioness’ hopes to stay on the fight card, the unified female featherweight world champion is more than willing to step in.
“If UFC and Amanda Nunes are thinking of a replacement, I would love the challenge as I am still in fighting shape,” Serrano wrote on X. “I hope the champion recovers well.”
While Serrano is best known for her work in 8-ounce gloves, “The Real Deal” has dipped her toe into the world of MMA. In 2018, she competed twice under the Combate banner, going 1-0-1 and earning her victory via a first-round submission. She added another victory to her mixed martial arts resume in June 2021, defeating Valentina García via guillotine choke at iKON Fighting Federation 7.
Chances are the UFC will opt to keep Nunes on the sidelines until Harrison recovers and is ready to go, but there’s no denying that Nunes vs. Serrano would be a great way to kick off the UFC’s partnership with Paramount.
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