Overview
- Harrison’s manager Ali Abdelaziz said reporters should expect her to fight this year, with a likely return toward the end of 2026, but no date, event, or opponent has been announced.
- The champion underwent surgery to replace a disc in her neck after withdrawing from a planned title defense against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324, and the injury also kept her off a White House card.
- Amanda Nunes declined the idea of an interim-title fight while Harrison recovers, leaving the UFC without a clear interim champion or scheduled first defense.
- Harrison has long struggled to make the 135-pound bantamweight limit, and that ongoing weight issue has increased calls for the UFC to reopen or better support the featherweight division for her future fights.
- Harrison’s Olympic pedigree and recent title win give her leverage to prioritize recovery, so the key next steps to watch are an official medical clearance, a confirmed return date, and whether the UFC rebooks Nunes or adjusts divisional options.